Azaindazole compounds and methods of use

ABSTRACT

Compounds are provided that act as potent antagonists of the CCR1 receptor, and have in vivo anti-inflammatory activity. The compounds are generally aryl piperazine derivatives and are useful in pharmaceutical compositions, methods for the treatment of CCR1-mediated diseases, and as controls in assays for the identification of competitive CCR1 antagonists.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/693,525 filed on Jun. 22, 2005, the contents of which is incorporated herein in its entirety for all purposes.

STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING,” A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more of those compounds or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, which are effective in inhibiting the binding of various chemokines, such as MIP-1α, leukotactin, MPIF-1 and RANTES, to the CCR1 receptor. As antagonists or modulators for the CCR1 receptor, the compounds and compositions have utility in treating inflammatory and immune disorder conditions and diseases.

Human health depends on the body's ability to detect and destroy foreign pathogens that might otherwise take valuable resources from the individual and/or induce illness. The immune system, which comprises leukocytes (white blood cells (WBCs): T and B lymphocytes, monocytes, macrophages granulocytes, NK cell, mast cells, dendritic cell, and immune derived cells (for example, osteoclasts)), lymphoid tissues and lymphoid vessels, is the body's defense system. To combat infection, white blood cells circulate throughout the body to detect pathogens. Once a pathogen is detected, innate immune cells and cytotoxic T cells in particular are recruited to the infection site to destroy the pathogen. Chemokines act as molecular beacons for the recruitment and activation of immune cells, such as lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes, identifying sites where pathogens exist.

Despite the immune system's regulation of pathogens, certain inappropriate chemokine signaling can develop and has been attributed to triggering or sustaining inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and others. For example, in rheumatoid arthritis, unregulated chemokine accumulation in bone joints attracts and activates infiltrating macrophages and T-cells. The activities of these cells induce synovial cell proliferation that leads, at least in part, to inflammation and eventual bone and cartilage loss (see, DeVries, M. E., et al., Semin Immunol 11(2):95-104 (1999)). A hallmark of some demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis is the chemokine-mediated monocyte/macrophage and T cell recruitment to the central nervous system (see, Kennedy, et al., J. Clin. Immunol. 19(5):273-279 (1999)). Chemokine recruitment of destructive WBCs to transplants has been implicated in their subsequent rejection. See, DeVries, M. E., et al., ibid. Because chemokines play pivotal roles in inflammation and lymphocyte development, the ability to specifically manipulate their activity has-enormous impact on ameliorating and halting diseases that currently have no satisfactory treatment. In addition, transplant rejection may be minimized without the generalized and complicating effects of costly immunosuppressive pharmaceuticals.

Chemokines, a group of greater than 40 small peptides (7-10 kD), ligate receptors expressed primarily on WBCs or immune derived cells, and signal through G-protein-coupled signaling cascades to mediate their chemoattractant and chemostimulant functions. Receptors may bind more than one ligand; for example, the receptor CCR1 ligates RANTES (regulated on activation normal T cell expressed), MIP-1α (macrophage inflammatory protein), MPIF-1/CKβ8, and Leukotactin chemokines (among others with lesser affinities). To date, 24 chemokine receptors are known. The sheer number of chemokines, multiple ligand binding receptors, and different receptor profiles on immune cells allow for tightly controlled and specific immune responses. See, Rossi, et al., Ann. Rev. Immunol. 18(1):217-242 (2000). Chemokine activity can be controlled through the modulation of their corresponding receptors, treating related inflammatory and immunological diseases and enabling organ and tissue transplants.

The receptor CCR1 and its chemokine ligands, including, for example MIP-1α, MPIF-1/CKβ8, leukotactin and RANTES, represent significant therapeutic targets (see Saeki, et al., Current Pharmaceutical Design 9:1201-1208 (2003)) since they have been implicated in rheumatoid arthritis, transplant rejection (see, DeVries, M. E., et al., ibid.), and multiple sclerosis (see, Fischer, et al., J Neuroimmunol. 110(1-2):195-208 (2000); Izikson, et al., J. Exp. Med. 192(7):1075-1080 (2000); and Rottman, et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 30(8):2372-2377 (2000). In fact, function-blocking antibodies, modified chemokine receptor ligands and small organic compounds have been discovered, some of which have been successfully demonstrated to prevent or treat some chemokine-mediated diseases (reviewed in Rossi, et al., ibid.). Notably, in an experimental model of rheumatoid arthritis, disease development is diminished when a signaling-blocking, modified-RANTES ligand is administered (see Plater-Zyberk, et al., Immunol Lett. 57(1-3):117-120 (1997)). While function-blocking antibody and small peptide therapies are promising, they suffer from the perils of degradation, extremely short half-lives once administered, and prohibitive expense to develop and manufacture, characteristic of most proteins. Small organic compounds are preferable since they often have longer half lives in vivo, require fewer doses to be effective, can often be administered orally, and are consequently less expensive. Some organic antagonists of CCR1 have been previously described (see, Hesselgesser, et al., J. Biol. Chem. 273(25): 15687-15692 (1998); Ng, et al., J. Med. Chem. 42(22):4680-4694 (1999); Liang, et al., J. Biol. Chem. 275(25):19000-19008 (2000); and Liang, et al., Eur. J. Pharmacol. 389(1):41-49 (2000)). In view of the effectiveness demonstrated for treatment of disease in animal models (see, Liang, et al., J. Biol. Chem. 275(25):19000-19008 (2000)), the search has continued to identify additional compounds that can be used in the treatment of diseases mediated by CCR1 signaling.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides compounds having a formula selected from the group consisting of:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate or N-oxide thereof. In the formulae above, the subscript m is an integer of from 0 to 4.

The symbol R¹ is a substituent independently selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, —CO₂R^(a), —S(O)₃R^(a), —X¹CO₂R^(a), —X¹SO₂R^(a), —X¹S(O)₃R^(a), —X¹OR^(a), —COR^(a), —CONR^(a)R^(b), —X¹NR^(a)R^(b), —X¹NR^(a)COR^(b), —X¹CONR^(a)R^(b), X¹S(O)₂NR^(a)R^(b), X¹S(O)₂R^(a), —OR^(a), —NR^(a)R^(b), —NR^(a)COR^(b), —CONR^(a)R^(b), —NR^(a)S(O)₂R^(b), —S(O)₂NR^(a)R^(b), —S(O)₂R^(a), —X¹COR^(a), X¹CONR^(a)R^(b), and —X¹NR^(a)S(O)₂R^(b), wherein X¹ is C₁₋₄ alkylene and each R^(a) and R^(b) is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl and C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, or optionally R^(a) and R^(b) when attached to the same nitrogen atom are combined to form a 3- to 7-membered ring having from 0-2 additional heteroatoms as ring members; and wherein the aliphatic portions of each of said R¹ substituents is optionally substituted with from one to three members selected from the group consisting of —OH, —OR^(m), —OC(O)NHR^(m), —OC(O)N(R^(m))₂, —SH, —SR^(m), —S(O)R^(m), —S(O)₂R^(m), —SO₂NH₂, —S(O)₂NHR^(m), —S(O)₂N(R^(m))₂, —NHS(O)₂R^(m), —NR^(m)S(O)₂R^(m), —C(O)NH₂, —C(O)NHR^(m), —C(O)N(R^(m))₂, —C(O)R^(m), —NHC(O)R^(m), —NR^(m)C(O)R^(m), —NHC(O)NH₂, —NR^(m)C(O)NH₂, —NR^(m)C(O)NHR^(m), —NHC(═NH)NH₂, —NHC(═NR^(m))NH₂, —NR^(m)C(═NR^(m))N(R^(m))₂, —NR^(m)C(═NR^(m))NH(R^(m)), —NHC(═NR^(m))NH(R^(m)), —NHC(═NR^(m))N(R^(m))₂, —NHC(═NH)N(R^(m))₂, —NHC(═NH)NH(R^(m)), —C(═NH)NH₂, —C(═NR^(m))NH₂, —C(═NR^(m))N(R^(m))₂, —C(═NR^(m))NH(R^(m)), —NHC(O)NHR^(m), —NR^(m)C(O)N(R^(m))₂, —NHC(O)N(R^(m))₂, —CO₂H, —CO₂R^(m), —NHCO₂R^(m), —NR^(m)CO₂R^(m), —CN, —NO₂, —NH₂, —NHR^(m), —N(R^(m))₂, —NR^(m)S(O)NH₂ and —NR^(m)S(O)₂NHR^(m), wherein each R^(m) is independently an unsubstituted C₁₋₆ alkyl.

The symbols R^(2a), R^(2c) and R^(2d) in formulae Ia and Ib are each substituents independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, aryl, heteroaryl, —NO₂, —CO₂R^(c), —CONR^(c)R^(d), —C(O)R^(c), —S(O)R^(e), —S(O)₂R^(e), —S(O)₃R^(c), —R^(e), —C(NOR^(c))R^(d), —C(NR^(c)V)═NV, —N(V)C(R^(c))═NV, X²C(NOR^(c))R^(d), X²C(NR^(c)V)═NV, —X²N(V)C(R^(c))═NV, —X²NR^(c)R^(d), —X²SR^(c), —X²CN, —X²NO₂, —X²CO₂R^(c), —X²CONR^(c)R^(d), —X²C(O)R^(c), —X²OC(O)NR^(c)R^(d), —X²NR^(d)C(O)R^(c), —X²NR^(d)C(O)₂R^(e), —X²NR^(c)C(O)NR^(c)R^(d), —X²NH—C(NH₂)═NH, —X²NR^(e)C(NH₂)═NH, —X²NH—C(NH₂)═NR^(e), —X²NH—C(NHR^(e))═NH, —X²S(O)R^(e), —X²S(O)₂R^(e), —X²NR^(c)S(O)₂R^(e), —X²S(O)₂NR^(c)R^(d), —X²N₃, —OR^(c), —SR^(c), —NR^(d)C(O)R^(c), —NR^(d)C(O)₂R^(e), —X²S(O)₃R^(c), —S(O)₂NR^(c)R^(d), —X²OR^(c), —O—X²OR^(c), —X²NR^(c)R^(d), —O—X²NR^(c)R^(d), —NR^(d)-X²CO₂R^(c), —NR^(c)-C(O)NR^(c)R^(d), —NH—C(NH₂)═NH, —NR^(e)C(NH₂)═NH, —NH—C(NH₂)═NR^(e), —NH—C(NHR^(e))═NH, —NR^(e)C(NHR^(e))═NH, —NR^(e)C(NH₂)═NR^(e), —NH—C(NHR^(e))═NR^(e), —NH—C(NR^(e)R^(e))═NH, NR^(c)S(O)₂R^(e), —NR^(c)C(S)NR^(c)R^(d), —X²NR^(c)C(S)NR^(c)R^(d), —X²OC(O)R^(c), —O—X²CONR^(c)R^(d), —OC(O)R^(c), —NR^(c)R^(d), —NR^(d)-X²OR^(c) and —NR^(d)-X²NR^(c)R^(d).

Within each of R^(2a), R^(2c) and R^(2d), X² is C₁₋₄ alkylene and each R^(c) and R^(d) is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl, and C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl. Optionally, R^(c) and R^(d) when attached to the same nitrogen atom can be combined with the nitrogen atom to form a five or six-membered ring having from 0 to 2 additional heteroatoms as ring members. The symbol R^(e) is independently selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, C₂₋₈ alkenyl, C₂₋₈ alkynyl, aryl and heteroaryl, and each of R^(c), R^(d) and R^(e) is optionally further substituted with from one to three members selected from the group consisting of —OH, —OR^(n), —OC(O)NHR^(n), —OC(O)N(R^(n))₂, —SH, —SR^(n), —S(O)R^(n), —S(O)₂R^(n), —SO₂NH₂, —S(O)₂NHR^(n), —S(O)₂N(R^(n))₂, —NHS(O)₂R^(n), —NR^(n)S(O)₂R^(n), —C(O)NH₂, —C(O)NHR^(n), —C(O)N(R^(n))₂, —C(O)R^(n), —NHC(O)R^(n), —NR^(n)C(O)R^(n), —NHC(O)NH₂, —NR^(n)C(O)NH₂, —NR^(n)C(O)NHR^(n), —NHC(O)NHR^(n), —NR^(n)C(O)N(R^(n))₂, —NHC(O)N(R^(n))₂, —CO₂H, —CO₂R^(n), —NHCO₂R^(n), —NR^(n)CO₂R^(n), —CN, —NO₂, —NH₂, —NHR^(n), —N(R^(n))₂, —NR^(n)S(O)NH₂ and —NR^(n)S(O)₂NHR^(n), wherein each R^(n) is independently an unsubstituted C₁₋₆ alkyl; and wherein V is independently selected from the group consisting of —R^(c), —CN, —CO₂R^(e) and —NO₂.

Each of ring vertices a, b, c and d in formulae Ia and Ib is independently selected from N and C(R^(3a)), and from one to two of said ring vertices is N. The symbol R^(3a) in formulae Ia and Ib is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, —OR^(f), —OC(O)R^(f), —NR^(f)R^(g), —SR^(f), —R^(h), —CN, —NO₂, —CO₂R^(f), —CONR^(f)R^(g), —C(O)R^(f), —OC(O)NR^(f)R^(g), —NR^(g)C(O)R^(f), —NR^(g)C(O)₂R^(h), NR^(f)—C(O)NR^(f)R^(g), —NH—C(NH₂)═NH, —NR^(h)C(NH₂)═NH, —NH—C(NH₂)═NR^(h), —NH—C(NHR^(h))═NH, —C(═NR^(f))NR^(f)R^(g), —S(O)₃R^(f), —S(O)R^(h), —S(O)₂R^(h), —S(O)₃R^(h), —NR^(f)S(O)₂R^(h), —S(O)₂NR^(f)R^(g), —NR^(f)S(O)₂R^(h), —NR^(f)S(O)₂NR^(f)R^(g), —N₃, —C(C═NOR^(f))NR^(f)R^(g), —X₃SO₃R^(f), —X³C(═NR^(f))NR^(g)R^(h), —X³OR^(f), —X³OC(O)R^(f), —X³NR^(f)R^(g), —X³SR^(f), —X³ CN, —X³NO₂, —X³CO₂R^(f), —X³CONR^(f)R^(g), —X³C(O)R^(f), —X³OC(O)NR^(f)R^(g), —X³NR^(g)C(O)R^(f), —X³NR^(g)C(O)₂R^(h), —X³NR^(f)—C(O)NR^(f)R^(g), —X³NH—C(NH₂)═NH, —X³NR^(h)C(NH₂)═NH, —X³NH—C(NH₂)═NR^(h), —X³NH—C(NHR^(h))═NH, —X³S(O)R^(h), —X³S(O)₂R^(h), X³NR^(f)S(O)₂R^(h), —X³S(O)₂NR^(f)R^(g), —Y, —X³Y, —X³N₃, —C(O)NR^(f)S(O)R^(h), —P═O(OR^(f))(OR^(g)), —X³C(O)NR^(f)S(O)₂R^(h), —X³C(O)NR^(f)S(O)R^(h) and —X³P═O(OR^(f))(OR^(g)). The symbol Y is a five to ten-membered aryl, heteroaryl or heterocycloalkyl ring, optionally substituted with from one to three substitutents selected from the group consisting of halogen, —OR^(f), —NR^(f)R^(g), —R^(h), —SR^(f), —CN, —NO₂, —CO₂R^(f), —CONR^(f)R^(g), —C(O)R^(f), —NR^(g)C(O)R^(f), —S(O)R^(h), —S(O)₂R^(h), —NR^(f)S(O)₂R^(h), —S(O)₂NR^(f)R^(g), —X³ OR^(f), —X³NR^(f)R^(g), —X³NR^(f)S(O)₂R^(h) and —X³S(O)₂NR^(f)R^(g), and wherein each X³ is independently selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₄ alkylene, C₂₋₄ alkenylene and C₂₋₄ alkynylene; each R^(f) and R^(g) is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, C₂₋₈ alkenyl, C₂₋₈ alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aryl-C₁₋₄ alkyl, and aryloxy-C₁₋₄ alkyl, or when attached to the same nitrogen atom can be combined with the nitrogen atom to form a five or six-membered ring having from 0 to 2 additional heteroatoms as ring members; and each R^(h) is independently selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, C₂₋₈ alkenyl, C₂₋₈ alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aryl-C₁₋₄ alkyl, and aryloxy-C₁₋₄ alkyl, wherein the aliphatic portions of X³, R^(f), R^(g) and R^(h) are optionally further substituted with from one to three members selected from the group consisting of —OH, —OR^(o), —OC(O)NHR^(o), —OC(O)N(R^(o))₂, —SH, —SR^(o), —S(O)R^(o), —S(O)₂R^(o), —SO₂NH₂, —S(O)₂NHR^(o), —S(O)₂N(R^(o))₂, —NHS(O)₂R^(o), —NR^(o)S(O)₂R^(o), —C(O)NH₂, —C(O)NHR^(o), —C(O)N(R^(o))₂, —C(O)R^(o), —NHC(O)R^(o), —NR^(o)C(O)R^(o), —NHC(O)NH₂, —NR^(o)C(O)NH₂, —NR^(o)C(O)NHR^(o), —NHC(O)NHR^(o), —NR^(o)C(O)N(R^(o))₂, —NHC(O)N(R^(o))₂, —CO₂H, —CO₂R^(o), —NHCO₂R^(o), —NROCO₂R^(o), —CN, —NO₂, —NH₂, —NHR^(o), —N(R^(o))₂, —NR^(o)S(O)NH₂ and —NR^(o)S(O)₂NHR^(o), wherein R^(o) is unsubstituted C₁₋₆ alkyl.

In addition to the compounds provided herein, the present invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more of these compounds, as well as methods for the use of these compounds in therapeutic methods, primarily to treat diseases associated with CCR1 signaling activity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

None

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

I. Abbreviation and Definitions

The term “alkyl”, by itself or as part of another substituent, means, unless otherwise stated, a straight or branched chain hydrocarbon radical, having the number of carbon atoms designated (i.e. C₁₋₈ means one to eight carbons). Examples of alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, t-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, and the like. The term “alkenyl” refers to an unsaturated alkyl group having one or more double bonds. Similarly, the term “alkynyl” refers to an unsaturated alkyl group having one or more triple bonds. Examples of such unsaturated alkyl groups include vinyl, 2-propenyl, crotyl, 2-isopentenyl, 2-(butadienyl), 2,4-pentadienyl, 3-(1,4-pentadienyl), ethynyl, 1- and 3-propynyl, 3-butynyl, and the higher homologs and isomers. The term “cycloalkyl” refers to hydrocarbon rings having the indicated number of ring atoms (e.g., C₃₋₆cycloalkyl) and being fully saturated or having no more than one double bond between ring vertices. “Cycloalkyl” is also meant to refer to bicyclic and polycyclic hydrocarbon rings such as, for example, bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, bicyclo[2.2.2]octane, etc. The term “heterocycloalkyl” refers to a cycloalkyl group that contain from one to five heteroatoms selected from N, O, and S, wherein the nitrogen and sulfur atoms are optionally oxidized, and the nitrogen atom(s) are optionally quaternized. The heterocycloalkyl may be a monocyclic, a bicyclic or a polycylic ring system. Non limiting examples of heterocycloalkyl groups include pyrrolidine, piperidinyl, imidazolidine, pyrazolidine, butyrolactam, valerolactam, imidazolidinone, hydantoin, dioxolane, phthalimide, piperidine, 1,4-dioxane, morpholine, thiomorpholine, thiomorpholine-S-oxide, thiomorpholine-S,S-oxide, piperazine, pyran, pyridone, 3-pyrroline, thiopyran, pyrone, tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydrothiophene, quinuclidine, and the like. A heterocycloalkyl group can be attached to the remainder of the molecule through a ring carbon or a heteroatom.

The term “alkylene” by itself or as part of another substituent means a divalent radical derived from an alkane, as exemplified by —CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂—. Typically, an alkyl (or alkylene) group will have from 1 to 24 carbon atoms, with those groups having 10 or fewer carbon atoms being preferred in the present invention. A “lower alkyl” or “lower alkylene” is a shorter chain alkyl or alkylene group, generally having four or fewer carbon atoms. Similarly, “alkenylene” and “alkynylene” refer to the unsaturated forms of “alkylene” having double or triple bonds, respectively.

The terms “alkoxy,” “alkylamino” and “alkylthio” (or thioalkoxy) are used in their conventional sense, and refer to those alkyl groups attached to the remainder of the molecule via an oxygen atom, an amino group, or a sulfur atom, respectively. Additionally, for dialkylamino groups, the alkyl portions can be the same or different and can also be combined to form a 3-7 membered ring with the nitrogen atom to which each is attached. Accordingly, a group represented as —NR^(a)R^(b) is meant to include piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, morpholinyl, azetidinyl and the like.

The terms “halo” or “halogen,” by themselves or as part of another substituent, mean, unless otherwise stated, a fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine atom. Additionally, terms such as “haloalkyl,” are meant to include monohaloalkyl and polyhaloalkyl. For example, the term “C₁₋₄ haloalkyl” is mean to include trifluoromethyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, 4-chlorobutyl, 3-bromopropyl, and the like.

The term “aryl” means, unless otherwise stated, a polyunsaturated, typically aromatic, hydrocarbon group which can be a single ring or multiple rings (up to three rings) which are fused together or linked covalently. The term “heteroaryl” refers to aryl groups (or rings) that contain from one to five heteroatoms selected from N, O, and S, wherein the nitrogen and sulfur atoms are optionally oxidized, and the nitrogen atom(s) are optionally quaternized. A heteroaryl group can be attached to the remainder of the molecule through a heteroatom. Non-limiting examples of aryl groups include phenyl, naphthyl and biphenyl, while non-limiting examples of heteroaryl groups include pyridyl, pyridazinyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimindinyl, triazinyl, quinolinyl, quinoxalinyl, quinazolinyl, cinnolinyl, phthalaziniyl, benzotriazinyl, purinyl, benzimidazolyl, benzopyrazolyl, benzotriazolyl, benzisoxazolyl, isobenzofuryl, isoindolyl, indolizinyl, benzotriazinyl, thienopyridinyl, thienopyrimidinyl, pyrazolopyrimidinyl, imidazopyridines, benzothiaxolyl, benzofuranyl, benzothienyl, indolyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, isothiazolyl, pyrazolyl, indazolyl, pteridinyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyrrolyl, thiazolyl, furyl, thienyl and the like. Substituents for each of the above noted aryl and heteroaryl ring systems are selected from the group of acceptable substituents described below.

For brevity, the term “aryl” when used in combination with other terms (e.g., aryloxy, arylthioxy, arylalkyl) includes both aryl and heteroaryl rings as defined above. Thus, the term “arylalkyl” is meant to include those radicals in which an aryl group is attached to an alkyl group (e.g., benzyl, phenethyl, pyridylmethyl and the like).

The above terms (e.g., “alkyl,” “aryl” and “heteroaryl”), in some embodiments, will include both substituted and unsubstituted forms of the indicated radical. Preferred substituents for each type of radical are provided below. For brevity, the terms aryl and heteroaryl will refer to substituted or unsubstituted versions as provided below, while the term “alkyl” and related aliphatic radicals is meant to refer to unsubstituted version, unless indicated to be substituted.

Substituents for the alkyl radicals (including those groups often referred to as alkylene, alkenyl, alkynyl and cycloalkyl) can be a variety of groups selected from: -halogen, —OR′, —NR′R″, —SR′, —SiR′R″ R′″, —OC(O)R′, —C(O)R′, —CO₂R′, —CONR′R″, —OC(O)NR′R″, —NR″C(O)R′, —NR′—C(O)NR″R′″, —NR″C(O)₂R′, —NH—C(NH₂)═NH, —NR′C(NH₂)═NH, —NH—C(NH₂)═NR′, —S(O)R′, —S(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —NR′S(O)₂R″, —CN and —NO₂ in a number ranging from zero to (2 m′+1), where m′ is the total number of carbon atoms in such radical. R′, R″ and R′″ each independently refer to hydrogen, unsubstituted C₁₋₈ alkyl, unsubstituted heteroalkyl, unsubstituted aryl, aryl substituted with 1-3 halogens, unsubstituted C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ alkoxy or C₁₋₈ thioalkoxy groups, or unsubstituted aryl-C₁₋₄ alkyl groups. When R′ and R″ are attached to the same nitrogen atom, they can be combined with the nitrogen atom to form a 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, or 7-membered ring. For example, —NR′R″ is meant to include 1-pyrrolidinyl and 4-morpholinyl.

Similarly, substituents for the aryl and heteroaryl groups are varied and are generally selected from: -halogen, —OR′, —OC(O)R′, —NR′R″, —SR′, —R′, —CN, —NO₂, —CO₂R′, —CONR′R″, —C(O)R′, —OC(O)NR′R″, —NR″C(O)R′, —NR″C(O)₂R′, —NR′-C(O)NR″R′″, —NH—C(NH₂)═NH, —NR′C(NH₂)═NH, —NH—C(NH₂)═NR′, —S(O)R′, —S(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —NR′S(O)₂R″, —N₃, perfluoro(C₁-C₄)alkoxy, and perfluoro(C₁-C₄)alkyl, in a number ranging from zero to the total number of open valences on the aromatic ring system; and where R′, R″ and R′″ are independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, C₂₋₈ alkenyl, C₂₋₈ alkynyl, unsubstituted aryl and heteroaryl, (unsubstituted aryl)-C₁₋₄ alkyl, and unsubstituted aryloxy-C₁₋₄ alkyl. Other suitable substituents include each of the above aryl substituents attached to a ring atom by an alkylene tether of from 1-4 carbon atoms.

Two of the substituents on adjacent atoms of the aryl or heteroaryl ring may optionally be replaced with a substituent of the formula -T-C(O)—(CH₂)_(q)—U—, wherein T and U are independently —NH—, —O—, —CH₂— or a single bond, and q is an integer of from 0 to 2. Alternatively, two of the substituents on adjacent atoms of the aryl or heteroaryl ring may optionally be replaced with a substituent of the formula -A-(CH₂)_(r)—B—, wherein A and B are independently —CH₂—, —O—, —NH—, —S—, —S(O)—, —S(O)₂—, —S(O)₂NR′- or a single bond, and r is an integer of from 1 to 3. One of the single bonds of the new ring so formed may optionally be replaced with a double bond. Alternatively, two of the substituents on adjacent atoms of the aryl or heteroaryl ring may optionally be replaced with a substituent of the formula —(CH₂)_(s)—X—(CH₂)_(t)—, where s and t are independently integers of from 0 to 3, and X is —O—, —NR′—, —S—, —S(O)—, —S(O)₂—, or —S(O)₂NR′—. The substituent R′ in —NR′- and —S(O)₂NR′— is selected from hydrogen or unsubstituted C₁₋₆ alkyl.

As used herein, the term “heteroatom” is meant to include oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), sulfur (S) and silicon (Si).

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” is meant to include salts of the active compounds which are prepared with relatively nontoxic acids or bases, depending on the particular substituents found on the compounds described herein. When compounds of the present invention contain relatively acidic functionalities, base addition salts can be obtained by contacting the neutral form of such compounds with a sufficient amount of the desired base, either neat or in a suitable inert solvent. Examples of salts derived from pharmaceutically-acceptable inorganic bases include aluminum, ammonium, calcium, copper, ferric, ferrous, lithium, magnesium, manganic, manganous, potassium, sodium, zinc and the like. Salts derived from pharmaceutically-acceptable organic bases include salts of primary, secondary and tertiary amines, including substituted amines, cyclic amines, naturally-occuring amines and the like, such as arginine, betaine, caffeine, choline, N,N′-dibenzylethylenediamine, diethylamine, 2-diethylaminoethanol, 2-dimethylaminoethanol, ethanolamine, ethylenediamine, N-ethylmorpholine, N-ethylpiperidine, glucamine, glucosamine, histidine, hydrabamine, isopropylamine, lysine, methylglucamine, morpholine, piperazine, piperadine, polyamine resins, procaine, purines, theobromine, triethylamine, trimethylamine, tripropylamine, tromethamine and the like. When compounds of the present invention contain relatively basic functionalities, acid addition salts can be obtained by contacting the neutral form of such compounds with a sufficient amount of the desired acid, either neat or in a suitable inert solvent. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts include those derived from inorganic acids like hydrochloric, hydrobromic, nitric, carbonic, monohydrogencarbonic, phosphoric, monohydrogenphosphoric, dihydrogenphosphoric, sulfuric, monohydrogensulfuric, hydriodic, or phosphorous acids and the like, as well as the salts derived from relatively nontoxic organic acids like acetic, propionic, isobutyric, malonic, benzoic, succinic, suberic, fumaric, mandelic, phthalic, benzenesulfonic, p-tolylsulfonic, citric, tartaric, methanesulfonic, and the like. Also included are salts of amino acids such as arginate and the like, and salts of organic acids like glucuronic or galactunoric acids and the like (see, for example, Berge, S. M., et al, “Pharmaceutical Salts”, Journal of Pharmaceutical Science, 1977, 66, 1-19). Certain specific compounds of the present invention contain both basic and acidic functionalities that allow the compounds to be converted into either base or acid addition salts.

The neutral forms of the compounds may be regenerated by contacting the salt with a base or acid and isolating the parent compound in the conventional manner. The parent form of the compound differs from the various salt forms in certain physical properties, such as solubility in polar solvents, but otherwise the salts are equivalent to the parent form of the compound for the purposes of the present invention.

In addition to salt forms, the present invention provides compounds which are in a prodrug form. Prodrugs of the compounds described herein are those compounds that readily undergo chemical changes under physiological conditions to provide the compounds of the present invention. Additionally, prodrugs can be converted to the compounds of the present invention by chemical or biochemical methods in an ex vivo environment. For example, prodrugs can be slowly converted to the compounds of the present invention when placed in a transdermal patch reservoir with a suitable enzyme or chemical reagent.

Certain compounds of the present invention can exist in unsolvated forms as well as solvated forms, including hydrated forms. In general, the solvated forms are equivalent to unsolvated forms and are intended to be encompassed within the scope of the present invention. Certain compounds of the present invention may exist in multiple crystalline or amorphous forms. In general, all physical forms are equivalent for the uses contemplated by the present invention and are intended to be within the scope of the present invention.

Certain compounds of the present invention possess asymmetric carbon atoms (optical centers) or double bonds; the racemates, diastereomers, geometric isomers, regioisomers and individual isomers (e.g., separate enantiomers) are all intended to be encompassed within the scope of the present invention. The compounds of the present invention may also contain unnatural proportions of atomic isotopes at one or more of the atoms that constitute such compounds. For example, the compounds may be radiolabeled with radioactive isotopes, such as for example tritium (³H), iodine-125 (¹²⁵I) or carbon-14 (¹⁴C). All isotopic variations of the compounds of the present invention, whether radioactive or not, are intended to be encompassed within the scope of the present invention.

II. General

The present invention derives from the discovery that compounds of formula Ia or Ib (as well as the subgeneric formulae Ia¹⁻⁴ and Ib¹⁻⁴) act as potent antagonists of the CCR1 receptor. The compounds have in vivo anti-inflammatory activity. Accordingly, the compounds provided herein are useful in pharmaceutical compositions, methods for the treatment of CCR1-mediated diseases, and as controls in assays for the identification of competitive CCR1 antagonists.

III. Compounds

In one aspect, the present invention provides compounds having a formula selected from the group consisting of:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate or N-oxide thereof. In the formulae above, the subscript m is an integer of from 0 to 4. In certain embodiments, in formulae Ia and Ib the subscript m is an integer from 0 to 2. In yet another embodiment, the subscript m in formulae Ia and Ib is an integer of from 0 to 1.

The symbol R¹ in formulae Ia and Ib is a substituent independently selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, —CO₂R^(a), —S(O)₃R^(a), —X¹CO₂R^(a), —X¹SO₂R^(a), —X¹S(O)₃R^(a), —X¹OR^(a), —COR^(a), —CONR^(a)R^(b), —X¹NR^(a)R^(b), —X¹NR^(a)COR^(b), —X¹CONR^(a)R^(b), X¹S(O)₂NR^(a)R^(b), X¹S(O)₂R^(a), —OR^(a), —NR^(a)R^(b), —NR^(a)COR^(b), —CONR^(a)R^(b), —NR^(a)S(O)₂R^(b)b, —S(O)₂NR^(a)R^(b), —S(O)₂R^(a), —X¹COR^(a), X¹CONR^(a)R^(b), and —X¹NR^(a)S(O)₂R^(b). The symbol X¹ is C₁₋₄ alkylene and each R^(a) and R^(b) substituent is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl and C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, or optionally R^(a) and R^(b) when attached to the same nitrogen atom are combined to form a 3- to 7-membered ring having from 0-2 additional heteroatoms as ring members; and wherein the aliphatic portions of each of said R¹ substituents is optionally substituted with from one to three members selected from the group consisting of —OH, —OR^(m), —OC(O)NHR^(m), —OC(O)N(R^(m))₂, —SH, —SR^(m), —S(O)R^(m), —S(O)₂R^(m), —SO₂NH₂, —S(O)₂NHR^(m), —S(O)₂N(R^(m))₂, —NHS(O)₂R^(m), —NR^(m)S(O)₂R^(m), —C(O)NH₂, —C(O)NHR^(m), —C(O)N(R^(m))₂, —C(O)R^(m), —NHC(O)R^(m), —NR^(m)C(O)R^(m), —NHC(O)NH₂, —NR^(m)C(O)NH₂, —NR^(m)C(O)NHR^(m), —NHC(═NH)NH₂, —NHC(═NR^(m))NH₂, —NR^(m)C(═NR^(m))N(R^(m))₂, —NR^(m)C(═NR^(m))NH(R^(m)), —NHC(═NR^(m))NH(R^(m)), —NHC(═NR^(m))N(R^(m))₂, —NHC(═NH)N(R^(m))₂, —NHC(═NH)NH(R^(m)), —C(═NH)NH₂, —C(═NR^(m))NH₂, —C(═NR^(m))N(R^(m))₂, —C(═NR^(m))NH(R^(m)), —NHC(O)NHR^(m), —NR^(m)C(O)N(R^(m))₂, —NHC(O)N(R^(m))₂, —CO₂H, —CO₂R^(m), —NHCO₂R^(m), —NR^(m)CO₂R^(m), —CN, —NO₂, —NH₂, —NHR^(m), —N(R^(m))₂, —NR^(m)S(O)NH₂ and —NR^(m)S(O)₂NHR^(m), wherein each R^(m) is independently an unsubstituted C₁₋₆ alkyl.

In another embodiment, R¹ in formulae Ia and Ib is a substituent independently selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, —CO₂R^(a), —X¹CO₂R^(a), —X¹SO₂Ra and —X^(l)OR^(a), wherein the aliphatic portions of each of said R′ substituents is optionally substituted with from one to three members selected from the group consisting of —OH, —OR^(m), —OC(O)NHR^(m), —OC(O)N(R^(m))₂, —SH, —SR^(m), —S(O)R^(m), —S(O)₂R^(m), —SO₂NH₂, —S(O)₂NHR^(m), —S(O)₂N(R^(m))₂, —NHS(O)₂R^(m), —NR^(m)S(O)₂R^(m), —C(O)NH₂, —C(O)NHR^(m), —C(O)N(R^(m))₂, —C(O)R^(m), —NHC(O)R^(m), —NR^(m)C(O)R^(m), —NHC(O)NH₂, —NR^(m)C(O)NH₂, —NR^(m)C(O)NHR^(m), —NHC(O)NHR^(m), —NR^(m)C(O)N(R^(m))₂, —NHC(O)N(R^(m))₂, —CO₂H, —CO₂R^(m), —NHCO₂R^(m), —NR^(m)CO₂R^(m), —CN, —NO₂, —NH₂, —NHR^(m), —N(R^(m))₂, —NR^(m)S(O)NH₂ and —NR^(m)S(O)₂NHR^(m), wherein each R^(m) is independently an unsubstituted C₁₋₆ alkyl.

In another embodiment, R¹ in formulae Ia and Ib is a substituent independently selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl and C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, wherein the aliphatic portions of each of said R¹ substituents is optionally substituted with from one to three members selected from the group consisting of —OH, —OR^(m), —OC(O)NHR^(m), —OC(O)N(R^(m))₂, —SH, —SR^(m), —S(O)R^(m), —S(O)₂R^(m), —SO₂NH₂, —S(O)₂NHR^(m), —S(O)₂N(R^(m))₂, —NHS(O)₂R^(m), —NR^(m)S(O)₂R^(m), —C(O)NH₂, —C(O)NHR^(m), —C(O)N(R^(m))₂, —C(O)R^(m), —NHC(O)R^(m), —NR^(m)C(O)R^(m), —NHC(O)NH₂, —NR^(m)C(O)NH₂, —NR^(m)C(O)NHR^(m), —NHC(O)NHR^(m), —NR^(m)C(O)N(R^(m))₂, —NHC(O)N(R^(m))₂, —CO₂H, —CO₂R^(m), —NHCO₂R^(m), —NR^(m)CO₂R^(m), —CN, —NO₂, —NH₂, —NHR^(m), —N(R^(m))₂, —NR^(m)S(O)NH₂ and —NR^(m)S(O)₂NHR^(m), wherein each R^(m) is independently an unsubstituted C₁₋₆ alkyl.

In one embodiment of the invention, R¹ in formulae Ia and Ib, if present, is selected from the group consisting of —CO₂H or C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with —OH, —OR^(m), —S(O)₂R^(m), —CO₂H and —CO₂R^(m). In another embodiment of the invention, R¹ is methyl; and m is 0-2.

The symbols R^(2a), R^(2c) and R^(2d) in formulae Ia and Ib are each substituents independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, aryl, heteroaryl, —NO₂, —CO₂R^(c), —CONR^(c)R^(d), —C(O)R^(c), —S(O)R^(e), —S(O)₂R^(e), —S(O)₃R^(c), —R^(e), —C(NOR^(c))R^(d), —C(NR^(c)V)═NV, —N(V)C(R^(c))═NV, —X²C(NOR^(c))R^(d), —X²C(NR^(c)V)═NV, —X²N(V)C(R^(c))═NV, —X²NR^(c)R^(d), —X²SR^(c), —X²CN, —X²NO₂, —X²CO₂R^(c), —X²CONR^(c)R^(d), —X²C(O)R^(c), —X²OC(O)NR^(c)R^(d), —X²NR^(d)C(O)R^(c), —X²NR^(d)C(O)₂R^(e), —X²NR^(c)C(O)NR^(c)R^(d), —X²NH—C(NH₂)═NH, —X²NR^(e)C(NH₂)═NH, —X²NH—C(NH₂)═NR^(e), —X²NH—C(NHR)═NH, —X²S(O)R^(e), —X²S(O)₂R^(e), —X²NR^(c)S(O)₂R^(e), —X²S(O)₂NR^(c)R^(d), —X²N₃, —OR^(c), —SR^(c), —NR^(d)C(O)R^(c), —NR^(d)C(O)₂R^(e), —X²S(O)₃R^(c), —S(O)₂NR^(c)R^(d), —X²OR^(c), —O—X²OR^(c), —X²NR^(c)R^(d), —O—X²NR^(c)R^(d), —NR^(d)—X²CO₂R^(c), —NR^(c)—C(O)NR^(c)R^(d), —NH—C(NH₂)═NH, —NR^(e)C(NH₂)═NH, —NH—C(NH₂)═NR^(e), —NH—C(NHR^(e))═NH, —NR^(e)C(NHR^(e))═NH, —NR^(e)C(NH₂)═NR^(e), —NH—C(NHR^(e))═NR^(e), —NH—C(NR^(e)R^(e))═NH, NR^(c)S(O)₂R^(e), —NR^(c)C(S)NR^(c)R^(d), X²NR^(c)C(S)NR^(c)R^(d), X²OC(O)R^(c), —O—X²CONR^(c)R^(d), —OC(O)R^(c), —NR^(c)R^(d), —NR^(d)X²OR^(c) and —NR^(d)—X²NR^(c)R^(d).

In one embodiment, the symbol R^(2a) in formulae Ia and Ib is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, heteroaryl, —NO₂, —CO₂R^(c), —CONR^(c)R^(d), —C(O)R^(c), —S(O)R^(e), —S(O)₂R^(e), —R^(e), —C(NOR^(c))R^(d), —C(NR^(c)V)═NV, —N(V)C(R^(c))═NV, —X²C(NOR^(c))R^(d), —X²C(NR^(c)V)═NV, —X²N(V)C(R^(c))═NV, —X²NR^(c)R^(d), —X²SR^(c), —X²CN, —X²NO₂, —X²CO₂R^(c), —X²CONR^(c)R^(d), —X²C(O)R^(c), —X²OC(O)NR^(c)R^(d), —X²NR^(d)C(O)R^(c), —X²NR^(d)C(O)₂R^(e), —X²NR^(c)C(O)NR^(c)R^(d), —X²NH—C(NH₂)═NH, —X²NR^(e)C(NH₂)═NH, —X²NH—C(NH₂)═NR^(e), —X²NH—C(NHR^(e))═NH, —X²S(O)R^(e), —X²S(O)₂R^(e), —X²NR^(c)S(O)₂R^(e), —X²S(O)₂NR^(c)R^(d) and —X²N₃.

In another embodiment, the R^(2a) substitutent in formulae Ia and Ib is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, F, Cl, Br, I, —CO₂R^(c), —CONR^(c)R^(d), —CN, a 5- to 6-membered heteroaryl, —X₂NR^(c)R^(d), —C(NOR^(c))R^(d). In yet another embodiment, R^(2a) is hydrogen. In yet another embodiment, the R^(2a) substitutent in formulae Ia and Ib is selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, —CO₂Me, —CONH₂, CN, oxazolyl, —CH₂NH₂, —CH₂NHMe, —CH₂NMe₂ and —CH═N—OH. In yet another embodiment, in compounds having formulae Ia and Ib, the R^(2a) substituent is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, F, Cl, Br and I.

In another embodiment, the symbols R^(2c) and R^(2d) in formulae Ia and Ib are each substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, —OR^(c), —SR^(c), —OC(O)R^(c), —NR^(c)R^(d), —R^(e), —CN, —NO₂, —CO₂R^(c), —C(O)R^(c), —NR^(d)C(O)R^(c), —NR^(d)C(O)₂R^(e), —S(O)₂R^(e), —S(O)₂NR^(c)R^(d), —X²OR^(c), —O—X²OR^(c), —X²NR^(c)R^(d), —O—X²NR^(c)R^(d) and —NR^(d)—X²CO₂R^(c). In certain aspects of this embodiment, R^(2c) and R^(2d) are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, F, Cl, Br, I and OR^(c).

Within each of R^(2a), R^(2c) and R^(2d), X² is C₁₋₄ alkylene and each R^(c) and R^(d) is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl, and C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl. Optionally, R^(c) and R^(d) when attached to the same nitrogen atom can be combined with the nitrogen atom to form a five or six-membered ring having from 0 to 2 additional heteroatoms as ring members. The symbol R^(e) is independently selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, C₂₋₈ alkenyl, C₂₋₈ alkynyl, aryl and heteroaryl, and each of R^(c), R^(d) and R^(e) is optionally further substituted with from one to three members selected from the group consisting of —OH, —OR^(n), —OC(O)NHR^(n), —OC(O)N(R^(n))₂, —SH, —SR^(n), —S(O)R^(n), —S(O)₂R^(n), —SO₂NH₂, —S(O)₂NHR^(n), —S(O)₂N(R^(n))₂, —NHS(O)₂R^(n), —NR^(n)S(O)₂R^(n), —C(O)NH₂, —C(O)NHR^(n), —C(O)N(R^(n))₂, —C(O)R^(n), —NHC(O)R^(n), —NRC(O)R^(n), —NHC(O)NH₂, —NR^(n)C(O)NH₂, —NR^(n)C(O)NHR^(n), —NHC(O)NHR^(n), —NR^(n)C(O)N(R^(n))₂, —NHC(O)N(R^(n))₂, —CO₂H, —CO₂R^(n), —NHCO₂R^(n), —NR^(n)CO₂R^(n), —CN, —NO₂, —NH₂, —NHR^(n), —N(R^(n))₂, —NR^(n)S(O)NH₂ and —NR^(n)S(O)₂NHR^(n), wherein each R^(n) is independently an unsubstituted C₁₋₆ alkyl; and wherein V is independently selected from the group consisting of —R^(c), —CN, —CO₂R^(e) and —NO₂.

In a certain embodiment of a compound having formulae Ia and Ib, the subscript m is 0 or 1; and the symbol R^(2a) is hydrogen. In another embodiment, the subscript m is 0-1; and R^(2a) is F or Cl.

In another embodiment of the invention, R^(2c) in formulae Ia and Ib is selected from the group consisting of halogen, —CN, —NO₂, —CO₂R^(c), —COR^(c), —S(O)₂R^(e). In another embodiments of the invention, the symbol R^(2c) is selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, CN, NO₂, —CO₂CH₃, —C(O)CH₃ and —S(O)₂CH₃.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the symbol R^(2d) in formulae Ia and Ib is selected from the group consisting of —SR^(c), —O—X²—OR^(c), —X²—OR^(c), —OC(O)R^(c), —NR^(c)R^(d), —R^(e) and —OR^(c). In another embodiment, R^(2d) is selected from the group consisting of —SMe, —OCH₂OMe, —CH₂OMe, —CH₂OEt, methyl, ethyl, methoxy and ethoxy.

In formulae Ia and Ib, each of the ring vertices a, b, c and d is independently selected from N and C(R^(3a)), and from one to two of said ring vertices is N. In one embodiment of the invention, the fused six membered ring having vertices a, b, c and d is a fused pyridine ring or a fused pyrimidine ring. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the fused six membered ring having vertices a, b, c and d is a fused pyrazine ring. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the fused six membered ring having vertices a, b, c and d is a fused pyridazine ring.

Turning to the R^(3a) substituent in formulae Ia and Ib, at each occurence, the symbol R^(3a) is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, —OR^(f), —OC(O)R^(f), —NR^(f)R^(g), —SR^(f), —R^(h), —CN, —NO₂, —CO₂R^(f), —CONR^(f)R^(g), —C(O)R^(f), —OC(O)NR^(f)R^(g), —NR^(g)C(O)R^(f), —NR^(g)C(O)₂R^(h), —NR^(f)—C(O)NR^(f)R^(g), —NH—C(NH₂)═NH, —NR^(h)C(NH₂)═NH, —NH—C(NH₂)═NR^(h), —NH—C(NHR^(h))═NH, —C(═NR^(f))NR^(g)R^(h), —S(O)₃R^(f), —S(O)R^(h), —S(O)₂R^(h), —S(O)₃R^(h), —NR^(f)S(O)₂R^(h), —S(O)₂NR^(f)R^(g), —NR^(f)S(O)₂R^(h), —NR^(f)S(O)₂NR^(f)R^(g), —N₃, —C(C═NOR^(f))NR^(f)R^(g), —X₃SO₃R^(f), —X³C(═NR^(f))NR^(g)R^(h), —X³OR^(f), —X³OC(O)R^(f), —X³NR^(f)R^(g), —X³SR^(f), —X³CN, —X³NO₂, —X³CO₂R^(f), —X³CONR^(f)R^(g), —X³C(O)R^(f), —X³OC(O)NR^(f)R^(g), —X³NR^(g)C(O)R^(f), —X³NR^(g)C(O)₂R^(h), —X³NR^(f)C(O)NR^(f)R^(g), —X³NH—C(NH₂)═NH, —X³NR^(h)C(NH₂)═NH, —X³NH—C(NH₂)═NR^(h), —X³NH—C(NHR^(h))═NH, —X³S(O)R^(h), —X³S(O)₂R^(h), —X³NR^(f)S(O)₂R^(h), —X³S(O)₂NR^(f)R^(g), —Y, —X³Y, —X³N₃, —C(O)NR^(f)S(O)R^(h), —P═O(OR^(f))(OR^(g)), —X³C(O)NR^(f)S(O)₂R^(h), —X³C(O)NR^(f)S(O)R^(h) and —X³P═O(OR^(f))(OR^(g)). The symbol Y is a five to ten-membered aryl, heteroaryl or heterocycloalkyl ring, optionally substituted with from one to three substitutents selected from the group consisting of halogen, —OR^(f), —NR^(f)R^(g), —R^(h), —SR^(f), —CN, —NO₂, —CO₂R^(f), —CONR^(f)R^(g), —C(O)R^(f), —NR^(g)C(O)R^(f), —S(O)R^(h), —S(O)₂R^(h), —NR^(f)S(O)₂R^(h), —S(O)₂NR^(f)R^(g), —X³OR^(f), —X³NR^(f)R^(g), —X³NR^(f)S(O)₂R^(h) and —X³S(O)₂NR^(f)R^(g), and wherein each X³ is independently selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₄ alkylene, C₂₋₄ alkenylene and C₂₋₄ alkynylene; each R^(f) and R^(g) is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, C₂₋₈ alkenyl, C₂₋₈ alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aryl-C₁₋₄ alkyl, and aryloxy-C₁₋₄ alkyl, or when attached to the same nitrogen atom can be combined with the nitrogen atom to form a five or six-membered ring having from 0 to 2 additional heteroatoms as ring members; and each R^(h) is independently selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, C₂₋₈ alkenyl, C₂₋₈ alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aryl-C₁₋₄ alkyl, and aryloxy-C₁₋₄ alkyl, wherein the aliphatic portions of X³, R^(f), R^(g) and R^(h) are optionally further substituted with from one to three members selected from the group consisting of —OH, —OR^(o), —OC(O)NHR^(o), —OC(O)N(R^(o))₂, —SH, —SR^(o), —S(O)R^(o), —S(O)₂R^(o), —SO₂NH₂, —S(O)₂NHR^(o), —S(O)₂N(R^(o))₂, —NHS(O)₂R^(o), —NR^(o)S(O)₂R^(o), —C(O)NH₂, —C(O)NHR^(o), —C(O)N(R^(o))₂, —C(O)R^(o), —NHC(O)R^(o), —NR^(o)C(O)R^(o), —NHC(O)NH₂, —NR^(o)C(O)NH₂, —NR^(o)C(O)NHR^(o), —NHC(O)NHR^(o), —NR^(o)C(O)N(R^(o))₂, —NHC(O)N(R^(o))₂, —CO₂H, —CO₂R^(o), —NHCO₂R^(o), —NR^(o)CO₂R^(o), —CN, —NO₂, —NH₂, —NHR^(o), —N(R^(o))₂, —NR^(o)S(O)NH₂ and —NR^(o)S(O)₂NHR^(o), wherein R^(o) is unsubstituted C₁₋₆ alkyl.

In one embodiment of formulae Ia and Ib, the symbol R^(3a), at each occurence, is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, —OR^(f), —OC(O)R^(f), —NR^(f)R^(g), —SR^(f), —R^(h), —CN, —NO₂, —CO₂R^(f), —CONR^(f)R^(g), —C(O)R^(f), —OC(O)NR^(f)R^(g), —NR^(g)C(O)R^(f), —NR^(g)C(O)₂R^(h), —NR^(f)—C(O)NR^(f)R^(g), —S(O)R^(h), —S(O)₂R^(h), —NR^(f)S(O)₂R^(h), —S(O)₂NR^(f)R^(g), —NR^(f)S(O)₂NR^(f)R^(g), —X³OR^(f), —X³NR^(f)R^(g), —X³SR^(f), —X³CN, —X³CO₂R^(f), —X³CONR^(f)R^(g), —X³C(O)R^(f), —X³NR^(g)C(O)R^(f), —Y, —X³Y and —X³N₃. The symbol Y is a five or six-membered aryl, a five or six membered heteroaryl, or a three to eight membered heterocycloalkyl ring, optionally substituted with from one to three substitutents selected from the group consisting of halogen, —OR^(f), —NR^(f)R^(g), —R^(h), —SR^(f), —CN, —NO₂, —CO₂R^(f), —CONR^(f)R^(g), —C(O)R^(f), —NR^(g)C(O)R^(f), —S(O)R^(h), —S(O)₂R^(h), —NR^(f)S(O)₂R^(h) and —S(O)₂NR^(f)R^(g). X³ is independently C₁₄ alkylene. The symbols R^(f) and R^(g) are independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl and C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, and each R^(h) is independently selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl and C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl. The aliphatic portions of X³, R^(f), R^(g) and R^(h) is optionally further substituted with from one to three members selected from the group consisting of —OH, —OR^(o), —OC(O)NHR^(o), —OC(O)N(R^(o))₂, —SH, —SR^(o), —S(O)R^(o), —S(O)₂R^(o), —SO₂NH₂, —S(O)₂NHR^(o), —S(O)₂N(R^(o))₂, —NHS(O)₂R^(o), —NR′S(O)₂R^(o), —C(O)NH₂, —C(O)NHR^(o), —C(O)N(R^(o))₂, —C(O)R^(o), —NHC(O)R^(o), —NR^(o)C(O)R^(o), —NHC(O)NH₂, —NR^(o)C(O)NH₂, —NR^(o)C(O)NHR^(o), —NHC(O)NHR^(o), —NR^(o)C(O)N(R^(o))₂, —NHC(O)N(R^(o))₂, —CO₂H, —CO₂R^(o), —NHCO₂R^(o), —NR^(o)CO₂R^(o), —CN, —NO₂, —NH₂, —NHR^(o), —N(R^(o))₂, —NR^(o)S(O)NH₂ and —NR^(o)S(O)₂NHR^(o), wherein each R^(o) is independently an unsubstituted C₁₋₆ alkyl.

In another embodiment of the invention, the symbol R^(3a) of formulae Ia and Ib is a member independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, —OR^(f), —NR^(f)R^(g), —R^(h), —CN, and —Y, wherein Y is a five to six-membered aryl ring, a five to six-membered heteroaryl ring, or a three to eight-membered heterocycloalkyl ring selected from the group consisting of homopiperidinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, azetidinyl, pyranyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, piperazinyl, phenyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, oxadiazolyl, oxazolyl and thiazolyl, optionally substituted with from one to three substitutents selected from the group consisting of halogen, —OR^(f), NR^(f)R^(g), —R^(h), —CN, wherein each R^(f) and R^(g) is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ haloalkyl and C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, and each R^(h) is independently selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ haloalkyl and C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, wherein the aliphatic portions of R^(f), R^(g) and R^(h) are optionally further substituted with from one to three members selected from the group consisting of —OH, —OR^(o), —OC(O)NHR^(o), —OC(O)N(R^(o))₂, —SH, —SR^(o), —S(O)R^(o), —S(O)₂R^(o), —SO₂NH₂, —S(O)₂NHR^(o), —S(O)₂N(R^(o))₂, —NHS(O)₂R^(o), —NR^(o)S(O)₂R^(o), —C(O)NH₂, —C(O)NHR^(o), —C(O)N(R^(o))₂, —C(O)R^(o), —NHC(O)R^(o), —NR^(o)C(O)R^(o), —NHC(O)NH₂, —NR^(o)C(O)NH₂, —NR^(o)C(O)NHR^(o), —NHC(O)NHR^(o), —NR^(o)C(O)N(R^(o))₂, —NHC(O)N(R^(o))₂, —CO₂H, —CO₂R^(o), —NHCO₂R^(o), —NR^(o)CO₂R^(o), —CN, —NO₂, —NH₂, —NHR^(o), —N(R^(o))₂, —NR^(o)S(O)NH₂ and —NR^(o)S(O)₂NHR^(o), wherein R^(o) is unsubstituted C₁₋₆ alkyl.

In another embodiment of the invention, the R^(3a) groups in formulae Ia and Ib is selected from the group consisting of —Y and —X³—Y, wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of homopiperidinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, azetidinyl, pyranyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, piperazinyl, phenyl, thienyl, furanyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyrrolyl, pyridizinyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, isothiazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl and oxadiazolyl, which is optionally substituted with from one to three substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, —OR^(f), —NR^(f)R^(g), —COR^(f), —CO₂R^(f), —CONR^(f)R^(g), —NO₂, —R^(h) and —CN, wherein R^(f) and R^(g) are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl and C₁₋₈ haloalkyl, and each R^(h) is independently selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl and C₁₋₈ haloalkyl. In certain embodiments of the invention, the symbol Y is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, pyridyl, oxazolyl, pyrimidinyl, oxadiazolyl, and thiazolyl, each of which is optionally substituted with from one to three substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, —OR^(f), —NR^(f)R^(g), —COR^(f), —CO₂R^(f), —CONR^(f)R^(g), —NO₂, —R^(h) and —CN, wherein R^(f) and R^(g) are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl and C₁₋₈ haloalkyl, and each R^(h) is independently selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl and C₁₋₈ haloalkyl. Within this embodiment, in certain aspects of the invention, m is an integer from 0-2. In other aspect, m is an integer from 0-1.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the R^(3a) substituent in formulae Ia and Ib is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C₁₋₄ alkyl and C₁₋₄ haloalkyl, wherein the aliphatic portions are optionally substituted with from one to three members selected from the group consisting of —OH, —OR^(o), —OC(O)NHR^(o), —OC(O)N(R^(o))₂, —SH, —SR^(o), —S(O)R^(o), —S(O)₂R^(o), —SO₂NH₂, —S(O)₂NHR^(o), —S(O)₂N(R^(o))₂, —NHS(O)₂R^(o), —NR^(o)S(O)₂R^(o), —C(O)NH₂, —C(O)NHR^(o), —C(O)N(R^(o))₂, —C(O)R^(o), —NHC(O)R^(o), —NR^(o)C(O)R^(o), —NHC(O)NH₂, —NR^(o)C(O)NH₂, —NR^(o)C(O)NHR^(o), —NHC(O)NHR^(o), —NR^(o)C(O)N(R^(o))₂, —NHC(O)N(R^(o))₂, —CO₂H, —CO₂R^(o), —NHCO₂R^(o), —NR^(o)CO₂R^(o), —CN, —NO₂, —NH₂, —NHR^(o), —N(R^(o))₂, —NR^(o)S(O)NH₂ and —NR^(o)S(O)₂NHR^(o), wherein each R^(o) is independently an unsubstituted C₁₋₆ alkyl. In certain instances of this embodiment, m is 0 or 1; R^(2a) is preferably hydrogen; and additionally in other instances, R^(2c) is preferably selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, CN, NO₂, —CO₂CH₃, —C(O)CH₃ and —S(O)₂CH₃.

In yet another embodiment, the R^(3a) substituent in formulae Ia and Ib is halogen, C₁₋₄ alkyl or C₁₋₄ haloalkyl.

In yet another embodiment, the R^(3a) moiety on the pyrazole ring in formulae Ia and Ib is hydrogen, halogen, chloro, fluoro, bromo, oxazolyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, oxadiazolyl, thiazolyl, C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl or C₁₋₈ haloalkyl or cyano.

In a certain embodiment of the invention, in the compounds having formulae Ia and Ib, R^(3a) is a member independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, —OR^(f), —NR^(f)R^(g), —C(O)R^(f), —C(O)OR^(f), —S(O)R^(f), —S(O)₂R^(f), —S(O)₃R^(f), —S(O)₃R^(f), —X³C(O)₂R^(f), X³S(O)₃R^(f), —S(O)₂NR^(f)R^(g), —X³S(O)₂NR^(f)R^(g), —R^(h), —CN, X³NR^(f)R^(g), NR^(g)C(O)R^(f), X³N₃ and Y. The symbol Y is a five to six-membered aryl, a five or six-membered heteroaryl ring or a three to eight-membered heterocycloalkyl ring selected from the group consisting of homopiperidinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, azetidinyl, pyranyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, piperazinzyl, phenyl, pyridyl, oxazolyl, pyrimidinyl, oxadiazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, triazolyl and thiazolyl, optionally substituted with from one to three substitutents selected from the group consisting of halogen, —OR^(f), —NR^(f)R^(g), —R^(h), —CN. Each R^(f) and R^(g) is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ haloalkyl and C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, and each R^(h) is independently selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ haloalkyl and C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, wherein the aliphatic portions of R^(f), R^(g) and R^(h) are optionally further substituted with from one to three members selected from the group consisting of —OH, —OR^(o), —OC(O)NHR^(o), —OC(O)N(R^(o))₂, —SH, —SR^(o), —S(O)R^(o), —S(O)₂R^(o), —SO₂NH₂, —S(O)₂NHR^(o), —S(O)₂N(R^(o))₂, —NHS(O)₂R^(o), —NR^(o)S(O)₂R^(o), —C(O)NH₂, —C(O)NHR^(o), —C(O)N(R^(o))₂, —C(O)R^(o), —NHC(O)R^(o), —NR^(o)C(O)R^(o), —NHC(O)NH₂, —NR^(o)C(O)NH₂, —NR^(o)C(O)NHR^(o), —NHC(O)NHR^(o), —NR^(o)C(O)N(R^(o))₂, —NHC(O)N(R^(o))₂, —CO₂H, —CO₂R^(o), —NHCO₂R^(o), —NR^(o)CO₂R^(o), —CN, —NO₂, —NH₂, —NHR^(o), —N(R^(o))₂, —NR^(o)S(O)NH₂ and —NR^(o)S(O)₂NHR^(o), wherein R^(o) is unsubstituted C₁₋₆ alkyl.

In a certain embodiment of the invention, in the compounds having formulae Ia and Ib, R^(3a) is a member independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, —OR^(f), —NR^(f)R^(g), —C(O)R^(f), —C(O)OR^(f), —S(O)R^(f), —S(O)₂R^(f), —S(O)₂NR^(f)R^(g), —R^(h), —CN, X³NR^(f)R^(g), NR^(g)C(O)R^(f), X³N₃ and —Y, wherein Y is a five to six-membered aryl, a five or six-membered heteroaryl ring or a three to eight-membered heterocycloalkyl ring selected from the group consisting of homopiperidinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, azetidinyl, pyranyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, piperazinzyl, phenyl, pyridyl, oxazolyl, pyrimidinyl, oxadiazolyl and thiazolyl, optionally substituted with from one to three substitutents selected from the group consisting of halogen, —OR^(f), —NR^(f)R^(g), —R^(h), —CN, wherein each R^(f) and R^(g) is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ haloalkyl and C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, and each R^(h) is independently selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ haloalkyl and C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, wherein the aliphatic portions of R^(f), R^(g) and R^(h) are optionally further substituted with from one to three members selected from the group consisting of —OH, —OR^(o), —OC(O)NHR^(o), —OC(O)N(R^(o))₂, —SH, —SR^(o), —S(O)R^(o), —S(O)₂R^(o), —SO₂NH₂, —S(O)₂NHR^(o), —S(O)₂N(R^(o))₂, —NHS(O)₂R^(o), —NR^(o)S(O)₂R^(o), —C(O)NH₂, —C(O)NHR^(o), —C(O)N(R^(o))₂, —C(O)R^(o), —NHC(O)R^(o), —NR^(o)C(O)R^(o), —NHC(O)NH₂, —NR^(o)C(O)NH₂, —NR^(o)C(O)NHR^(o), —NHC(O)NHR^(o), —NR^(o)C(O)N(R^(o))₂, —NHC(O)N(R^(o))₂, —CO₂H, —CO₂R^(o), —NHCO₂R^(o), —NR^(o)CO₂R^(o), —CN, —NO₂, —NH₂, —NHR^(o), —N(R^(o))₂, —NR^(o)S(O)NH₂ and —NR^(o)S(O)₂NHR^(o), wherein R^(o) is unsubstituted C₁₋₆ alkyl. The subcript m may be from 0 to 2; or alternatively from 0-1.

In another embodiment of the invention, in the compounds having formulae Ia or Ib, the symbol R^(3a) moiety on the pyrazole ring is hydrogen, halogen, chloro, fluoro, bromo, oxazolyl, pyridyl, oxadiazolyl thiazolyl, —R^(h) or cyano; and optionally the symbol R¹, when present, is selected from the group consisting of —CO₂H or C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with —OH, —OR^(m), —S(O)₂R^(m), —CO₂H and —CO₂R^(m). In yet another embodiment, R¹, when present, is hydrogen or C₁₋₆ alkyl. m is an integer from 0-2.

In another embodiment of the invention, in compounds of formulae Ia and Ib, the R^(3a) substitutent is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, —OR^(f), NR^(f)R^(g), —R^(h), —Y, —CN, X³N₃, —SO₂R^(h), X³NR^(f)R^(g), X³Y, —S(O)₃R^(f), —C(C═NOR)NR^(f)R^(g), —NO₂, and —NR^(g)C(O)R^(f), wherein Y is an optionally substituted group selected from the group consisting of phenyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, oxadiazolyl and morpholinyl, and R^(h) is an optionally substituted group selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl and C₃₋₈ cycloalkyl, and R^(f) and R^(g) are each independently an optionally substituted group selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl and C₃₋₈ cycloalkyl. In certain aspects of this embodiment, the R^(3a) substituent is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, bromo, iodo, amino, —CH₃, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, morpholinyl, oxdiazolyl, —NHC(O)CH₃, —CN, CH₂N₃, CH₂SO₃H, NO₂, —(C═NOH)NH₂, —S(O)₂CH₃ and CH₂NH₂.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, in the compounds having formulae Ia or Ib, the subscript m is 0 or 1; R^(2a) is hydrogen, halogen or —CN ; R^(2c) is selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, CN, NO₂, —CO₂CH₃, —C(O)CH₃ and —S(O)₂CH₃; R^(2d) is selected from the group consisting of —SR^(c), —O—X²—OR^(c), —X²—OR^(c), —R^(e) and —OR^(c); and R^(3a) substituents is selected from the group consisting of halogen, C₁₋₄ alkyl and C₁₋₄ haloalkyl, wherein the aliphatic portions of R^(3a) are optionally substituted with from one to three members selected from the group consisting of —OH, —OR^(o), —OC(O)NHR^(o), —OC(O)N(R^(o))₂, —SH, —SR^(o), —S(O)R^(o), —S(O)₂R^(o), —SO₂NH₂, —S(O)₂NHR^(o), —S(O)₂N(R^(o))₂, —NHS(O)₂R^(o), —NR^(o)S(O)₂R^(o), —C(O)NH₂, —C(O)NHR^(o), —C(O)N(R^(o))₂, —C(O)R^(o), —NHC(O)R^(o), —NR^(o)C(O)R^(o), —NHC(O)NH₂, —NR^(o)C(O)NH₂, —NR^(o)C(O)NHR^(o), —NHC(O)NHR^(o), —NR^(o)C(O)N(R^(o))₂, —NHC(O)N(R^(o))₂, —CO₂H, —CO₂R^(o), —NHCO₂R^(o), —NR^(o)CO₂R^(o), —CN, —NO₂, —NH₂, —NHR^(o), —N(R^(o))₂, —NR^(o)S(O)NH₂ and —NR^(o)S(O)₂NHR^(o), wherein each R^(o) is independently an unsubstituted C₁₋₆ alkyl.

In one preferred embodiment, in the compounds of the invention having the formula Ib, when R^(2a) is H, R^(2c) is chloro, R^(2d) is methoxy, m is 0, a is N, c is N, and b and d are CH, then R^(3a) is other than hydrogen, methyl, unsubstituted 2-pyridyl, unsubstituted 2-pyrimidinyl or unsubstituted 2-oxazolyl.

In one specific embodiment, the present invention provides compounds having formula Ia and Ib wherein the subscript m is an integer of from 0 to 4. The symbol R¹ is a substituent independently selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, —CO₂R^(a), —X¹CO₂R^(a), —X¹SO₂R^(a) and —X¹OR^(a), —COR^(a), —CONR^(a)R^(b), —X¹NR^(a)R^(b), —X¹NR^(a)COR^(b), —X¹CONR^(a)R^(b), X¹S(O)₂NR^(a)R^(b) and X¹S(O)₂R^(a), wherein X¹ is C₁₋₄ alkylene and each R^(a) and R^(b) is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl and C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl; and wherein the aliphatic portions of each of said R¹ substituents is optionally substituted with from one to three members selected from the group consisting of —OH, —OR^(m), —OC(O)NHR^(m), —OC(O)N(R^(m))₂, —SH, —SR^(m), —S(O)R^(m), —S(O)₂R^(m), —SO₂NH₂, —S(O)₂NHR^(m), —S(O)₂N(R^(m))₂, —NHS(O)₂R^(m), —NR^(m)S(O)₂R^(m), —C(O)NH₂, —C(O)NHR^(m), —C(O)N(R′″)₂, —C(O)R^(m), —NHC(O)R^(m), —NR^(m)-C(O)R^(m), —NHC(O)NH₂, —NR^(m)C(O)NH₂, —NR^(m)C(O)NHR^(m), —NHC(O)NHR^(m), —NR^(m)C(O)N(R^(m))₂, —NHC(O)N(R^(m))₂, —CO₂H, —CO₂R^(m), —NHCO₂R^(m)—, —NR^(m)-CO₂R^(m), —CN, —NO₂, —NH₂, —NHR^(m), —N(R^(m))₂, —NR^(m)S(O)NH₂ and —NR^(m)S(O)₂NHR^(m), wherein each R^(m) is independently an unsubstituted C₁₋₆ alkyl. The symbols R^(2a), R^(2c) and R^(2d) are each substituents independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, heteroaryl, —NO₂, —CO₂R^(c), —CONR^(c)R^(d), —C(O)R^(c), —S(O)R^(e), —S(O)₂R^(e), —R^(e), —C(NOR^(c))R^(d), —C(NR^(c)V)═NV, —N(V)C(R^(c))═NV, —X²C(NOR^(c))R^(d), —X^(c)(NR^(c)V)═NV, —X²N(V)C(R^(c))═NV, —X²NR^(c)R^(d), —X²SR^(c), —X²CN, —X²NO₂, —X²CO₂R^(c), —X²CONR^(c)R^(d), —X²C(O)R^(c), —X²OC(O)NR^(c)R^(d), —X²NR^(d)C(O)R^(c), —X²NR^(d)C(O)₂R^(e), —X²NR^(c)C(O)NR^(c)R^(d), —X²NH—C(NH₂)═NH, —X²NR^(e)C(NH₂)═NH, —X²NH—C(NH₂)═NR^(e), —X²NH—C(NHR^(e))═NH, —X²S(O)R^(e), —X²S(O)₂R^(c), —X²NR^(c)S(O)₂R^(e), —X²S(O)₂NR^(c)R^(d), —X²N₃, —OR^(c), —SR^(c), —NR^(d)C(O)R^(c), —NR^(d)C(O)₂R^(e), —S(O)₂R^(e), —S(O)₂NR^(c)R^(d), —X²OR^(c), —O-X²OR^(c), X²NR^(c)R^(d), —O—X²NR^(c)R^(d) and —NR^(d)—X²CO₂R^(c). Within each of R^(2a), R^(2c) and R^(2d), X² is C₁₋₄ alkylene and each R^(c) and R^(d) is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl, and C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl. Optionally, R^(c) and R^(d) when attached to the same nitrogen atom can be combined with the nitrogen atom to form a five or six-membered ring having from 0 to 2 additional heteroatoms as ring members. The symbol R^(e) is independently selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, C₂₋₈ alkenyl, C₂₋₈ alkynyl, aryl and heteroaryl, and each of R^(c), R^(d) and R^(e) is optionally further substituted with from one to three members selected from the group consisting of —OH, —OR^(n), —OC(O)NHR^(n), —OC(O)N(R^(n))₂, —SH, —SR^(n), —S(O)R^(n), —S(O)₂R^(n), —SO₂NH₂, —S(O)₂NHR^(n), —S(O)₂N(R^(n))₂, —NHS(O)₂R^(n), —NR^(n)S(O)₂R^(n), —C(O)NH₂, —C(O)NHR^(n), —C(O)N(R^(n))₂, —C(O)R^(n), —NHC(O)R^(n), —NR^(n)C(O)R^(n), —NHC(O)NH₂, —NR^(n)C(O)NH₂, —NR^(n)C(O)NHR^(n), —NHC(O)NHR^(n), —NR^(n)C(O)N(R^(n))₂, —NHC(O)N(R^(n))₂, —CO₂H, —CO₂R^(n), —NHCO₂R^(n), —NR^(n)CO₂R^(n), —CN, —NO₂, —NH₂, —NHR^(n), —N(R^(n))₂, —NR^(n)S(O)NH₂ and —NR^(n)S(O)₂NHR^(n), wherein each R^(n) is independently an unsubstituted C₁₋₆ alkyl; and wherein V is independently selected from the group consisting of -R^(c), —CN, —CO₂R^(e) and —NO₂. Each of ring vertices a, b, c and d in formulae Ia and Ib is independently selected from N and C(R^(3a)), and from one to two of said ring vertices is N. The symbol R^(3a) in formulae Ia and Ib is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, —OR^(f), —OC(O)R^(f), —NR^(f)R^(g), —SR^(f), —R^(h), —CN, —NO₂, —CO₂R^(f), —CONR^(f)R^(g), —C(O)R^(f), —OC(O)NR^(f)R^(g), —NR^(g)C(O)R^(f), —NR^(g)C(O)₂R^(h), —NR—C(O)NR^(f)R^(g), —NH—C(NH₂)═NH, —NR^(h)C(NH₂)═NH, —NH—C(NH₂)═NR^(h), —NH—C(NHR^(h))═NH, —S(O)R^(h), —S(O)₂R^(h), —NR^(f)S(O)₂R^(h), —S(O)₂NR^(f)R^(g), —NR^(f)S(O)₂R^(h), —NR^(f)S(O)₂NR^(f)R^(g), —N₃, —X³OR^(f), —X³OC(O)R^(f), —X³NR^(f)R^(g), —X³SR^(f), —X³CN, —X³NO₂, —X³CO₂R^(f), X³CONR^(f)R^(g), —X³C(O)R^(f), —X³OC(O)NR^(f)R^(g), —X³NR^(g)C(O)R^(f), —X³NR^(g)C(O)₂R^(h), —X³NR^(f)-C(O)NR^(f)R^(g), —X³ NH—C(NH₂)═NH, —X³NR^(h)C(NH₂)═NH, —X³NH—C(NH₂)═NR^(h), —X³NH—C(NHR^(h))═NH, —X³S(O)R^(h), —X³S(O)₂R^(h), —X³NR^(f)S(O)₂R^(h), S(O)₂NR^(f)R^(g), —X³Y and —X³N₃. The symbol Y is a five to ten-membered aryl, heteroaryl or heterocycloalkyl ring, optionally substituted with from one to three substitutents selected from the group consisting of halogen, —OR^(f), —NR^(f)R^(g), —R^(h), —SR^(f), —CN, —NO₂, —CO₂R^(f), —CONR^(f)R^(g), —C(O)R^(f), —NR^(g)C(O)R^(f), —S(O)R^(h), —S(O)₂R^(h), —NR^(f)S(O)₂R^(h), —S(O)₂NR^(f)R^(g), —X³OR^(f), —X³NR^(f)R^(g), —X³NR^(f)S(O)₂R^(h) and —X S(O)₂NR^(f)R^(g), and wherein each X³ is independently selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₄ alkylene, C₂₋₄ alkenylene and C₂₋₄ alkynylene; each R^(f) and R^(g) is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, C₂₋₈ alkenyl, C₂₋₈ alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aryl-C₁₋₄ alkyl, and aryloxy-C₁₋₄ alkyl, or when attached to the same nitrogen atom can be combined with the nitrogen atom to form a five or six-membered ring having from 0 to 2 additional heteroatoms as ring members; and each R^(h) is independently selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, C₂₋₈ alkenyl, C₂₋₈ alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aryl-C₁₋₄ alkyl, and aryloxy-C₁₋₄ alkyl, wherein the aliphatic portions of X³, R^(f), R^(g) and R^(h) are optionally further substituted with from one to three members selected from the group consisting of —OH, —OR^(o), —OC(O)NHR^(o), —OC(O)N(R^(o))₂, —SH, —SR^(o), —S(O)R^(o), —S(O)₂R^(o), —SO₂NH₂, —S(O)₂NHR^(o), —S(O)₂N(R^(o))₂, —NHS(O)₂R^(o), —NR^(o)S(O)₂R^(o), —C(O)NH₂, —C(O)NHR^(o), —C(O)N(R^(o))₂, —C(O)R^(o), —NHC(O)R^(o), —NR^(o)C(O)R^(o), —NHC(O)NH₂, —NR^(o)C(O)NH₂, —NR^(o)C(O)NHR^(o), —NHC(O)NHR^(o), —NR^(o)C(O)N(R^(o))₂, —NHC(O)N(R^(o))₂, —CO₂H, —CO₂R^(o), —NHCO₂R^(o), —NR^(o)CO₂R^(o), —CN, —NO₂, —NH₂, —NHR^(o), —N(R^(o))₂, —NR^(o)S(O)NH₂ and —NR^(o)S(O)₂NHR^(o), wherein R^(o) is unsubstituted C₁₋₆ alkyl.

In another specific embodiment, in compounds having formula Ia and Ib, R¹ is independently selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, —CO₂R^(a), —X¹CO₂R^(a), —X¹SO₂R^(a), —X¹OR^(a), —COR^(a), —CONR^(a)R, —X¹NR^(a)R^(b), —X¹NR^(a)COR^(b), —X¹CONR^(a)R^(b), X¹S(O)₂NR^(a)R^(b) and X¹S(O)₂R^(a), wherein X¹ is C₁₋₄ alkylene and each R^(a) and R^(b) is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl and C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl. The aliphatic portions of each of said R¹ substituents is optionally substituted with from one to three members selected from the group consisting of —OH, —OR^(m), —OC(O)NHR^(m), —OC(O)N(R^(m))₂, —SH, —SR^(m), —S(O)R^(m), —S(O)₂R^(m), —SO₂NH₂, —S(O)₂NHR^(m), —S(O)₂N(R^(m))₂, —NHS(O)₂R^(m), —NR^(m)S(O)₂R^(m), —C(O)NH₂, —C(O)NHR^(m), —C(O)N(R^(m))₂, —C(O)R^(m), —NHC(O)R^(m), —NR^(m)C(O)R^(m)—, —NHC(O)NH₂, —NR^(m)C(O)NH₂, —NR^(m)C(O)NHR^(m), —NHC(O)NHR^(m), —NR^(m)C(O)N(R^(m))₂, —NHC(O)N(R^(m))₂, —CO₂H, —CO₂R^(m), —NHCO₂R^(m), —NR^(m)CO₂R^(m), —CN, —NO₂, —NH₂, —NHR^(m), —N(R^(m))₂, —NR^(m)S(O)NH₂ and —NR^(m)S(O)₂NHR^(m), wherein each R^(m) is independently an unsubstituted C₁₋₆ alkyl. The substituents R^(2a), R^(2c) and R^(2d) are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, heteroaryl, —NO₂, —CO₂R^(c), —CONR^(c)R^(d), C(O)R^(c), —S(O)R^(e), —S(O)₂R^(e), —R^(e), —C(NOR^(c))R^(d), —C(R^(c)V)NV, —N(V)C(R^(c))═NV, —X²C(NOR^(c))R^(d), —X²C(NR^(c)V)═NV, —X²N(V)C(R^(c))═NV, —X²NR^(c)R^(d), —X²SR^(c), —X²CN, —X²NO₂, —X²CO₂R^(c), —X²CONR^(c)R^(d), —X²C(O)R^(c), —X²C(O)NR^(c)R^(d), —X²NR^(d)C(O)R^(c), X¹NR^(d)C(O)₂R^(e), —X²NR^(c)C(O)NR^(c)R^(d), —X²NH-C^(d)NH₂)═NH, —X²NR^(e)C(NH₂)═NH, —X²NH—C(NH₂)═NR^(e), —X²NH—C(NHR^(e))═NH, —X²S(O)R^(e), X²S(O)₂R^(e), —X²NR^(c)S(O)₂R^(e), —XS(O)₂NR^(e)R^(d), —X²N₃ OR^(c), —SR^(c), R^(e), —NR^(d)C(O)R^(c), —NR^(d)C(O)₂R^(e), —S(O)₂R^(e), —S(O)₂NR^(c)R^(d), —X²OR^(c), —O—X²OR^(c), —X²NR^(c)R^(d), —O—X²NR^(c)R^(d) and —NR^(d)—X²CO₂R^(c); in which within each of R^(2a), R^(2c) and R^(2d), X² is C₁₋₄ alkylene and each R^(c) and R^(d) is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, or optionally, R^(c) and R^(d) when attached to the same nitrogen atom can be combined with the nitrogen atom to form a five or six-membered ring having from 0 to 2 additional heteroatoms as ring members; and each R^(e) is independently selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, C₂₋₈ alkenyl, C₂₋₈ alkynyl, aryl and heteroaryl, and each of R^(e), R^(d) and R^(e) is optionally further substituted with from one to three members selected from the group consisting of —OH, —OR^(n), —OC(O)NHR^(n), —OC(O)N(R^(n))₂, —SH, —SR^(n), —S(O)R^(n), —S(O)₂R^(n), —SO₂NH₂, —S(O)₂NHR^(n), —S(O)₂N(R^(n))₂, —NHS(O)₂R^(n), —NR^(n)S(O)₂R^(n), —C(O)NH₂, —C(O)NHR^(n), —C(O)N(R^(n))₂, —C(O)R^(n), —NHC(O)R^(n), —NR^(n)C(O)R^(n), —NHC(O)NH₂, —NR^(n)C(O)NH₂, —NR^(n)C(O)NHR^(n), —NHC(O)NHR^(n), —NR^(n)C(O)N(R^(n))₂, —NHC(O)N(R^(n))₂, —CO₂H, —CO₂R^(n), —NHCO₂R^(n), —NR^(n)CO₂R^(n), —CN, —NO₂, —NH₂, —NHR^(n), —N(R^(n))₂, —NR^(n)S(O)NH₂ and —NR^(n)S(O)₂NHR^(n). Each R^(n) is independently an unsubstituted C₁₋₆ alkyl; and wherein V is independently selected from the group consisting of -R^(c), —CN, —CO₂R^(e) and —NO₂. Each of ring vertices a, b, c and d in formulae Ia and Ib is independently selected from N and C(R^(3a)), and from one to two of said ring vertices is N. The substituent R^(3a) is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, —OR^(f), —OC(O)R^(f), —NR^(f)R^(g), —SR^(f), —R^(h), —CN, —NO₂, —CO₂R^(f), —CONR^(f)R^(g), —C(O)R^(f), —OC(O)NR^(f)R^(g), —NR^(g)C(O)R^(f), —NR^(g)C(O)₂R_(h), —NR^(f)—C(O)NR^(f)R^(g), —NH—C(NH₂)═NH, —NR^(h)C(NH₂)═NH, —NH—C(NH₂)═NR^(h), —NH—C(NHR^(h))═NH, —S(O)R^(h), —S(O)₂R^(h), —NR^(f)S(O)₂R^(h), —S(O)₂NR^(f)R^(g), —NR^(f)S(O)₂R^(h), —NR^(f)S(O)₂NR^(f)R^(g), —N₃, —X³OR^(f), —X³OC(O)R^(f), —X³NR^(f)R^(g), —X³SR^(f), —X³CN, —X³NO₂, —X³CO₂R^(f), —X³CONR^(f)R^(g), —X³C(O)R^(f), —X³OC(O)NR^(f)R^(g), —X³NR^(g)C(O)R^(f), —X³NR^(g)C(O)₂R^(h), —X³NR^(f)—C(O)NR^(f)R^(g), —X³NH—C(NH₂)═NH, —X³NR^(h)C(NH₂)═NH, —X³NH—C(NH₂)═NR^(h), —X³NH—C(NHR^(h))═NH, —X³S(O)R^(h), —X^(h)S(O)₂R^(h), —X³NR^(f)S(O)₂R^(h), —X³S(O)₂NR^(f)R^(g), —Y, —X³Y and —X³N₃. The symbol Y is a five to ten-membered aryl, heteroaryl or heterocycloalkyl ring, optionally substituted with from one to three substitutents selected from the group consisting of halogen, —OR^(f), —NR^(f)R^(g), —R^(h), —SR^(f), —CN, —NO₂, —CO₂R^(f), —CONR^(f)R^(g), —C(O)R^(f), —NR^(g)C(O)R^(f), —S(O)R^(f), —S(O)₂R^(h), NR^(f)S(O)₂R^(h), —S(O)NR^(f)R^(g), —X³OR^(f), —X³NR^(f)R^(g), —X³NR^(f)S(O)₂R^(h) and —X³S(O)₂NR^(f)R^(g), and wherein each X³ is independently selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₄ alkylene, C₂₋₄ alkenylene and C₂₋₄ alkynylene and each R^(f) and R^(g) is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, C₂₋₈ alkenyl, C₂₋₈ alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aryl-C₁₋₄ alkyl, and aryloxy-C₁₋₄ alkyl, or when attached to the same nitrogen atom can be combined with the nitrogen atom to form a five or six-membered ring having from 0 to 2 additional heteroatoms as ring members, and each R^(h) is independently selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, C₂₋₈ alkenyl, C₂₋₈ alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aryl-C₁₋₄ alkyl, and aryloxy-C₁₋₄ alkyl, wherein the aliphatic portions of X³, R^(f), R^(g) and R^(h) are optionally further substituted with from one to three members selected from the group consisting of —OH, —OR^(f), —OC(O)NHR^(o), —OC(O)N(R^(o))₂, —SH, —SR^(o), —S(O)R^(o), —S(O)₂R^(o), —SO₂NH₂, —S(O)₂NHR^(o), —S(O)₂N(R^(o))₂, —NHS(O)₂R^(o), —NR^(o)S(O)₂R^(o), —C(O)NH₂, —C(O)NHR^(o), —C(O)N(R^(o))₂, —C(O)R^(o), —NHC(O)R^(o), —NR^(o)C(O)R^(o), —NHC(O)NH₂, —NR^(o)C(O)NH₂, —NR^(o)C(O)NHR^(o), —NHC(O)NHR^(o), —NR^(o)C(O)N(R^(o))₂, —NHC(O)N(R^(o))₂, —CO₂H, —CO₂R^(o), —NHCO₂R^(o), —NR^(o)CO₂R^(o), —CN, —NO₂, —NH₂, —NHR^(o), —N(R^(o))₂, —NR^(o)S(O)NH₂ and —NR^(o)S(O)₂NHR^(o), wherein R^(o) is unsubstituted C₁₋₆ alkyl.

In another specific embodiment of the invention, in compounds having formula Ia or Ib, each R¹ is a substituent independently selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, —CO₂R^(a), —X¹CO₂R^(a), —X¹SO₂R^(a) and —X¹OR^(a), wherein the aliphatic portions of each of said R¹ substituents is optionally substituted with from one to three members selected from the group consisting of —OH, —OR^(m), —OC(O)NHR^(m), —OC(O)N(R^(m))₂, —SH, —SR^(m), —S(O)R^(m), —S(O)₂R^(m), —SO₂NH₂, —S(O)₂NHR^(m), —S(O)₂N(R^(m))₂, —NHS(O)₂R^(m), —NR^(m)S(O)₂R^(m), —C(O)NH₂, —C(O)NHR^(m), —C(O)N(R^(m))₂, —C(O)R^(m), —NHC(O)R^(m), —NR^(m)C(O)R^(m), —NHC(O)NH₂, —NR^(m)C(O)NH₂, —NR^(m)C(O)NHR^(m), —NHC(O)NHR^(m), —NR^(m)C(O)N(R^(m))₂, —NHC(O)N(R^(m))₂, —CO₂H, —CO₂R^(m), —NHCO₂R^(m), —NR^(m)CO₂R^(m), —CN, —NO₂, —NH₂, —NHR^(m), —N(R^(m))₂, —NR^(m)S(O)NH₂ and —NR^(m)S(O)₂NHR^(m), wherein each R^(m) is independently an unsubstituted C₁₋₆ alkyl. The R^(2a) substituent is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, heteroaryl, —NO₂, —CO₂R^(c), —CONR^(c)R^(d), —C(O)R^(c), —S(O)R^(e), —S(O)₂R^(e), —R^(e), —C(NOR^(c))R^(d), —C(NR^(c)V)═NV, —N(V)C(R^(c))═NV, —X²C(NOR^(c))R^(d), —X²C(NR^(c)V)═NV, —X²N(V)C(R^(c))═NV, —X²NR^(c)R^(d), —X²SR^(c), —X²CN, —X²NO₂, —X²CO₂R^(c), —X²CONR^(c)R^(d), —X²C(O)R^(c), —X²OC(O)NR^(c)R^(d), —X²NR^(d)C(O)R^(c), —X²NR^(d)C(O)₂R^(e), —X²NR^(c)C(O)NR^(c)R^(d), —X²NH—C(NH₂)═NH, —X²NR^(e)C(NH₂)═NH, —X²NH—C(NH₂)═NR^(e), —X²NH—C(NHR^(e))═NH, —X²S(O)R^(e), —X²S(O)₂R^(e), —X²NR^(c)S(O)₂R^(e), —X²S(O)₂NR^(c)R^(d) and —X²N₃. The R^(2c) and R^(2d) substituents are each independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, —OR^(c), —SR^(c), —R^(e), —CN, —NO₂, —CO₂R^(c), —C(O)R^(c), —NR^(d)C(O)R^(c), —NR^(d)C(O)₂R^(e), —S(O)₂R^(e), —S(O)₂NR^(c)R^(d), —X²OR^(c), —O—X²OR^(c), —X²NR^(c)R^(d),—O—X²NR^(c)R^(d) and —NR^(d)—X²R^(c). Each R^(3a) substituent is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, —OR^(f), —OC(O)R^(f), —NR^(f)R^(g), —SR^(f), —R^(h), —CN, —NO₂, —CO₂R^(f), —CONR^(f)R^(g), —C(O)R^(f), —OC(O)NR^(f)R^(g), —NR^(g)C(O)R^(f), —NR^(g)C(O)₂R^(h), —NR^(f)—C(O)NR^(f)R^(g), —S(O)R^(h), —S(O)₂R^(h), —NR^(f)S(O)₂R^(h), —S(O)₂NR^(f)R^(g), —NR^(f)S(O)₂NR^(f)R^(g), —X³OR^(f), —X³NR^(f)R^(g), —X³SR^(f), —X³CN, —C(C═NOR^(f))NR^(f)R^(g), X³SO₃R^(f), —X³CO₂R^(f), —X³CONR^(f)R^(g), —X³C(O)R^(f), —X³NR^(g)C(O)R^(f), —X³NR^(g)C(O)₂R^(h), —Y, —X³Y, —X³N₃, wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of a five or six-membered aryl ring, a five or six-membered heteroaryl ring and three to eight membered heterocycloalkyl ring, wherein said Y group is optionally substituted with from one to three substitutents selected from the group consisting of halogen, —OR^(f), NR^(f)R^(g), —R^(h), —SR^(f), —CN, —NO₂, —CO₂R^(f), —CONR^(f)R^(g), —C(O)R^(f), —NR^(g)C(O)R^(f), —S(O)R^(h), —S(O)₂R^(h), —NR^(f)S(O)₂R^(h) and —S(O)₂NR^(f)R^(g), and wherein each X³ is independently C₁₋₄ alkylene, and each R^(f) and R^(g) is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl and C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, and each R^(h) is independently selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl and C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, wherein the aliphatic portions of X³, R^(f), R^(g), and R^(h) is optionally further substituted with from one to three members selected from the group consisting of —OH, —OR^(f), —OC(O)NHR^(o), —OC(O)N(R^(o))₂, —SH, —SR^(o), —S(O)R^(o), —S(O)₂R^(o), —SO₂NH₂, —S(O)₂NHR^(o), —S(O)₂N(R^(o))₂, —NHS(O)₂R^(o), —NR^(o)S(O)₂R^(o), —C(O)NH₂, —C(O)NHR^(o), —C(O)N(R^(o))₂, —C(O)R^(o), —NHC(O)R^(o), —NR^(o)C(O)R^(o), —NHC(O)NH₂, —NR^(o)C(O)NH₂, —NR^(o)C(O)NHR^(o), —NHC(O)NHR^(o), —NR^(o)C(O)N(R^(o))₂, —NHC(O)N(R^(o))₂, —CO₂H, —CO₂R^(o), —NHCO₂R^(o), —NR^(o)CO₂R^(o), —CN, —NO₂, —NH₂, —NHR^(o), —N(R^(o))₂, —NR^(o)S(O)NH₂ and —NR^(o)S(O)₂NHR^(o), wherein each R^(o) is independently an unsubstituted C₁₋₆ alkyl.

In another embodiment of the invention, the compounds of the invention having formula Ib is represented by formulae Ib¹ and Ib²:

or an N-oxide thereof; wherein R^(2c) is halogen, cyano or nitro; the symbol R^(2d) is selected from —SR^(c), —O—X²—OR^(c), —X²—OR^(c), —R^(e), —OR^(c) and —NR^(d)C(O)R^(c); each of ring vertices a, b, c and d is independently selected from N and C(R^(3a)), and from one to two of said ring vertices is N; and each R^(3a) is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ haloalkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, C₃₋₆ heterocycloalkyl, —S(O)₂R^(h), amino, phenyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, oxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, isoxazolyl and thiazolyl. In one embodiment, the ring vertex a is N. In another embodiment, the ring vertex b is N. In another embodiment, the ring vertex c is N. In another embodiment, the ring vertex d is N. In yet another embodiment, the ring vertices a and c are each N; b is hydrogen; and d is C(R^(3a)), wherein R^(3a) on ring vertex d is other than hydrogen. In another embodiment, the ring vertex a is N; b is C(R^(3a)) wherein R^(3a) on ring vertex b is other than hydrogen; and c and d are each hydrogen. In another embodiment, the ring vertex a is N; b and c are each hydrogen; and d is C(R^(3a)), wherein R^(3a) on ring vertex d is other than hydrogen. In another embodiment, the ring vertex a is C(R^(3a)), wherein R^(3a) on ring vertex a is other than hydrogen; b is N; c and d are each hydrogen. In another embodiment, the ring vertex a is N; b and d are each hydrogen; and c is C(R^(3a)); wherein R^(3a) on ring vertex c is other than hydrogen. In another embodiment, the ring vertices a and c are each N; b is hydrogen; and d is C(R^(3a)), wherein R^(3a) on ring vertex d is other than hydrogen.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the compounds of the invention having formula Ib is represented by formulae Ib³ and Ib⁴:

or an N-oxide thereof; wherein R^(2c) is independently halogen, cyano or nitro; R^(2d) is selected from —SR^(c), —O—X²—OR^(c), —X²—OR^(c), —R^(e), —OR^(c), —NR^(c)R^(d), —NR^(c)S(O)₂R^(e) and —NR^(d)C(O)R^(c); R^(2a) is selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, —CO₂Me, —CONH₂, CN, oxazolyl, —CH₂NH₂, —CH₂NHMe, —CH₂NMe₂ and —CH═N—OH; each of ring vertices a, b, c and d is independently selected from N and C(R^(3a)), and from one to two of said ring vertices is N; and each R^(3a) is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ haloalkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, C₃₋₆ heterocycloalkyl, —S(O)₂R^(h), amino, phenyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, oxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, isoxazolyl and thiazolyl. In one embodiment the ring vertex a is N. In another embodiment the ring vertex b is N. In another embodiment the ring vertex c is N. In another embodiment the ring vertex d is N. In yet another embodiment, the ring vertices a and c are each N; b is hydrogen; and d is C(R^(3a)), wherein R^(3a) on ring vertex d is other than hydrogen. In another embodiment, the ring vertex a is N; b is C(R^(3a)) wherein R^(3a) on ring vertex b is other than hydrogen; and c and d are each hydrogen. In another embodiment, the ring vertex a is N; b and c are each hydrogen; and d is C(R^(3a)), wherein R^(3a) on ring vertex d is other than hydrogen. In another embodiment, the ring vertex a is C(R^(3a)), wherein R^(3a) on ring vertex a is other than hydrogen; b is N; c and d are each hydrogen. In another embodiment, the ring vertex a is N; b and d are each hydrogen; and C is C(R^(3a)); wherein R^(3a) on ring vertex c is other than hydrogen. In another embodiment, the ring vertices a and c are each N; b is hydrogen; and d is C(R^(3a)), wherein R^(3a) on ring vertex d is other than hydrogen.

In yet another embodiment, the compounds of the invention having formula Ia is represented by formulae Ia¹ or Ia²:

or an N-oxide thereof; wherein the symbol R^(2c) is halogen, cyano or nitro; the symbol R^(2d) is selected from —SR^(c), —O—X²—OR^(c), —X²—OR^(c), —R^(e), —OR^(c) and —NR^(d)C(O)R^(c); each of ring vertices a, b, c and d is independently selected from N and C(R^(3a)), and from one to two of said ring vertices is N; and each R^(3a) is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ haloalkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, C₃₋₆ heterocycloalkyl, —S(O)₂R^(h), amino, phenyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, oxazoylyl, oxadiazolyl, isoxazolyl and thiazolyl. In one embodiment, the ring vertex d is N. In another embodiment the ring vertex b is N. In another embodiment the ring vertex c is N. In another embodiment the ring vertex d is N. In another embodiment, the ring vertex a is N; b and d are each hydrogen; and c is C(R^(3a)) wherein R^(3a) is other than hydrogen. In another embodiment, the ring vertex a is C(R^(3a)), wherein R^(3a) on ring vertex a is other than hydrogen; b is N; and c and d are each hydrogen. In another embodiment, the ring vertex a is N; b and c are each hydrogen; and d is C(R^(3a)) wherein R^(3a) on ring vertex d is other than hydrogen. In another embodiment, the ring vertex a is C(R^(3a)), wherein R^(3a) on ring vertex a is other than hydrogen; b and c are each hydrogen; and d is N. In another embodiment, the ring vertex a is C(R^(3a)), wherein R^(3a) on ring vertex a is other than hydrogen; b and d are each N; and c is hydrogen. In another embodiment, the ring vertices a and b are each hydrogen; c is C(R^(3a)), wherein R^(3a) on ring vertex c is other than hydrogen; and d is N.

In yet another embodiment, the compounds of the invention having formula Ia is represented by formula Ia³ and Ia⁴:

or an N-oxide thereof; wherein R^(2c) is halogen, cyano or nitro; R^(2d) is selected from —SR^(c), —O—X²—OR^(c), —X²—OR^(c), —R^(e), —OR^(c) and —NR^(d)C(O)R^(c); R^(2a) is selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, —CO₂Me, —CONH₂, CN, oxazolyl, —CH₂NH₂, —CH₂NHMe, and —CH₂NMe₂; each of ring vertices a, b, c and d is independently selected from N and C(R^(3a)), and from one to two of said ring vertices is N; and each R^(3a) is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ haloalkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, C₃₋₆ heterocycloalkyl, —S(O)₂R^(h), amino, phenyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, oxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, isoxazolyl and thiazolyl. In one embodiment, the ring vertex a is N. In another embodiment the ring vertex b is N. In another embodiment the ring vertex c is N. In another embodiment, the ring vertex d is N. In another embodiment, the ring vertex a is C(R^(3a)), wherein R^(3a) on ring vertex a is other than hydrogen; b is N; and c and d are each hydrogen. In another embodiment, the ring vertex a is N; b and c are each hydrogen; and d is C(R^(3a)) wherein R^(3a) on ring vertex d is other than hydrogen. In another embodiment, the ring vertex a is C(R^(3a)), wherein R^(3a) on ring vertex a is other than hydrogen; b and c are each hydrogen; and d is N. In another embodiment, the ring vertex a is C(R^(3a)), wherein R^(3a) on ring vertex a is other than hydrogen; b and d are each N; and c is hydrogen. In another embodiment, the ring vertices a and b are each hydrogen; c is C(R^(3a)), wherein R^(3a) on ring vertex c is other than hydrogen; and d is N.

A family of specific compound of particular interest having formulae Ia and Ib consists of compounds, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates or N-oxides thereof, as set forth in Table 1.

TABLE 1 1. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[4,3-b]pyridin-1-yl- ethanone 2. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[4,3-b]pyridin-2-yl- ethanone 3. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4- b]pyridin-2-yl)-ethanone 4. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyrazin-1-yl-7- oxide)-ethanone 5. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyrazin-1-yl-7- oxide)-ethanone 6. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4- b]pyridin-1-yl-ethanone. 7. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4- b]pyridin-2-yl-ethanone. 8. 2-(3-Amino-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-1-[4-(4-chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)- 2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-ethanone. 9. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4- b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone. 10. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-methyl- pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone. 11. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-2-yl- ethanone. 12. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl- ethanone. 13. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[4,3- c]pyridin-1-yl-ethanone. 14. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4- c]pyridin-2-yl-ethanone. 15. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-pyridin-2-yl-pyrazolo[3,4- b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone. 16. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-thiazol-2-yl-pyrazolo[3,4- b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone. 17. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin- 1-yl-ethanone. 18. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin- 2-yl-ethanone. 19. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-methyl-pyrazolo[3,4- b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone. 20. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-oxazol-2-yl-pyrazolo[3,4- b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone. 21. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-fluoro-pyrazolo[3,4- b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone. 22. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-oxazol-2- yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone 23. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridin-2-yl- ethanone 24. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridin-1-yl- ethanone 25. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin- 1-yl-ethanone 26. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-thiazol-2- yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone 27. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-pyridin-2- yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone 28. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-methyl-pyrazolo[3,4- b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone 29. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-methyl- pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone 30. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-thiazol-2-yl-pyrazolo[3,4- b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone 31. 1-{2-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-1H-pyrazolo[3,4- b]pyridine-3-carbonitrile 32. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl-2- oxide)-ethanone 33. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(6-methyl-pyrazolo[3,4- b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone 34. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(6-methyl-pyrazolo[3,4- b]pyridin-2-yl)-ethanone 35. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-morpholin-4-yl-pyrazolo[3,4- b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone 36. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4- c]pyridin-1-yl-ethanone 37. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridin-1-yl-6- oxide)-ethanone 38. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(4-chloro-pyrazolo[4,3- c]pyridin-2-yl)-ethanone 39. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(4-iodo-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin- 2-yl)-ethanone 40. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(4-iodo-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin- 1-yl)-ethanone 41. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(4-methanesulfonyl- pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone 42. 2-(3-Azidomethyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)- piperazin-1-yl]-ethanone 43. (1-{2-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-1H- pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-yl)-methanesulfonic acid 44. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(5-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4- b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone 45. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(4-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4- d]pyrimidin-2-yl)-ethanone 46. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(4-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4- d]pyrimidin-1-yl)-ethanone 47. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(4-methoxy-pyrazolo[3,4- d]pyrimidin-1-yl)-ethanone 48. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(6-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4- b]pyridin-2-yl)-ethanone 49. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(6-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4- b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone 50. 2-(6-Azido-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)- piperazin-1-yl]-ethanone 51. 2-(6-Amino-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)- piperazin-1-yl]-ethanone 52. 2-(7-Azido-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridin-1-yl)-1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)- piperazin-1-yl]-ethanone 53. 2-(7-Amino-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridin-1-yl)-1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)- piperazin-1-yl]-ethanone 54. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-oxazol-2-yl-pyrazolo[3,4- b]pyridin-2-yl)-ethanone 55. 2-(5-Amino-3-methyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy- phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-ethanone 56. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-methyl-5-nitro-pyrazolo[3,4- b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone 57. 2-(3-Amino-6-methyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy- phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-ethanone 58. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3- [1,2,4]oxadiazol-3-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone 59. 1-{2-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-N-hydroxy-1H- pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-3-carboxamidine 60. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-[1,2,4]oxadiazol-3-yl- pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone 61. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-[3-(5-methyl-[1,2,4]oxadiazol- 3-yl)-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl]-ethanone 62. N-(1-{2-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-1H- pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-6-yl)-acetamide 63. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-methanesulfonyl- pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone 64. 2-(3-Aminomethyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)- piperazin-1-yl]-ethanone 65. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-iodo-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin- 1-yl)-ethanone 66. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-iodo- pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone 67. 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-oxazol-2-yl- pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone

Another family of specific compounds of particular interest having formulae Ia and Ib consists of compounds, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates or N-oxides thereof as set forth in Table 2.

Preparation of Compounds

As provided in the examples below, the compounds and intermediates of the present invention can be prepared by one of skill in the art in a component assembly manner. Schemes 1A-1M illustrate a variety of methods for the preparation of a variety of azaindazole-type derivatives. In each of these schemes, X is halogen; Nu is nucleophilic group; the symbol

within an aryl ring indicate the replacement of one to two carbon(s) of said aryl ring vertex (vertices) with nitrogen atom(s); L is a ligand; and non-interferring substituents are provided as —R, —R′, —R″, and —R′″.

IV. Pharmaceutical Compositions

In addition to the compounds provided above, compositions for modulating CCR1 activity in humans and animals will typically contain a pharmaceutical carrier or diluent.

The term “composition” as used herein is intended to encompass a product comprising the specified ingredients in the specified amounts, as well as any product which results, directly or indirectly, from combination of the specified ingredients in the specified amounts. By “pharmaceutically acceptable” it is meant the carrier, diluent or excipient must be compatible with the other ingredients of the formulation and not deleterious to the recipient thereof.

The pharmaceutical compositions for the administration of the compounds of this invention may conveniently be presented in unit dosage form and may be prepared by any of the methods well known in the art of pharmacy and drug delivery. All methods include the step of bringing the active ingredient into association with the carrier which constitutes one or more accessory ingredients. In general, the pharmaceutical compositions are prepared by uniformly and intimately bringing the active ingredient into association with a liquid carrier or a finely divided solid carrier or both, and then, if necessary, shaping the product into the desired formulation. In the pharmaceutical composition the active object compound is included in an amount sufficient to produce the desired effect upon the process or condition of diseases.

The pharmaceutical compositions containing the active ingredient may be in a form suitable for oral use, for example, as tablets, troches, lozenges, aqueous or oily suspensions, dispersible powders or granules, emulsions and self emulsifications as described in U.S. Patent Application 2002-0012680, hard or soft capsules, syrups, elixirs, solutions, buccal patch, oral gel, chewing gum, chewable tablets, effervescent powder and effervescent tablets. Compositions intended for oral use may be prepared according to any method known to the art for the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions and such compositions may contain one or more agents selected from the group consisting of sweetening agents, flavoring agents, coloring agents, antioxidants and preserving agents in order to provide pharmaceutically elegant and palatable preparations. Tablets contain the active ingredient in admixture with non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable excipients which are suitable for the manufacture of tablets. These excipients may be for example, inert diluents, such as cellulose, silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, glucose, mannitol, sorbitol, lactose, calcium phosphate or sodium phosphate; granulating and disintegrating agents, for example, corn starch, or alginic acid; binding agents, for example PVP, cellulose, PEG, starch, gelatin or acacia, and lubricating agents, for example magnesium stearate, stearic acid or talc. The tablets may be uncoated or they may be coated, enterically or otherwise, by known techniques to delay disintegration and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract and thereby provide a sustained action over a longer period. For example, a time delay material such as glyceryl monostearate or glyceryl distearate may be employed. They may also be coated by the techniques described in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,256,108; 4,166,452; and 4,265,874 to form osmotic therapeutic tablets for control release.

Formulations for oral use may also be presented as hard gelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient is mixed with an inert solid diluent, for example, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate or kaolin, or as soft gelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient is mixed with water or an oil medium, for example peanut oil, liquid paraffin, or olive oil. Additionally, emulsions can be prepared with a non-water miscible ingredient such as oils and stabilized with surfactants such as mono-diglycerides, PEG esters and the like.

Aqueous suspensions contain the active materials in admixture with excipients suitable for the manufacture of aqueous suspensions. Such excipients are suspending agents, for example sodium carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, hydroxy-propylmethylcellulose, sodium alginate, polyvinyl-pyrrolidone, gum tragacanth and gum acacia; dispersing or wetting agents may be a naturally-occurring phosphatide, for example lecithin, or condensation products of an alkylene oxide with fatty acids, for example polyoxy-ethylene stearate, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with long chain aliphatic alcohols, for example heptadecaethyleneoxycetanol, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with partial esters derived from fatty acids and a hexitol such as polyoxyethylene sorbitol monooleate, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with partial esters derived from fatty acids and hexitol anhydrides, for example polyethylene sorbitan monooleate. The aqueous suspensions may also contain one or more preservatives, for example ethyl, or n-propyl, p-hydroxybenzoate, one or more coloring agents, one or more flavoring agents, and one or more sweetening agents, such as sucrose or saccharin.

ly suspensions may be formulated by suspending the active ingredient in a vegetable oil, for example arachis oil, olive oil, sesame oil or coconut oil, or in a mineral oil such as liquid paraffin. The oily suspensions may contain a thickening agent, for example beeswax, hard paraffin or cetyl alcohol. Sweetening agents such as those set forth above, and flavoring agents may be added to provide a palatable oral preparation. These compositions may be preserved by the addition of an anti-oxidant such as ascorbic acid.

Dispersible powders and granules suitable for preparation of an aqueous suspension by the addition of water provide the active ingredient in admixture with a dispersing or wetting agent, suspending agent and one or more preservatives. Suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents are exemplified by those already mentioned above. Additional excipients, for example sweetening, flavoring and coloring agents, may also be present.

The pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may also be in the form of oil-in-water emulsions. The oily phase may be a vegetable oil, for example olive oil or arachis oil, or a mineral oil, for example liquid paraffin or mixtures of these. Suitable emulsifying agents may be naturally-occurring gums, for example gum acacia or gum tragacanth, naturally-occurring phosphatides, for example soy bean, lecithin, and esters or partial esters derived from fatty acids and hexitol anhydrides, for example sorbitan monooleate, and condensation products of the said partial esters with ethylene oxide, for example polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate. The emulsions may also contain sweetening and flavoring agents.

Syrups and elixirs may be formulated with sweetening agents, for example glycerol, propylene glycol, sorbitol or sucrose. Such formulations may also contain a demulcent, a preservative and flavoring and coloring agents. Oral solutions can be prepared in combination with, for example, cyclodextrin, PEG and surfactants.

The pharmaceutical compositions may be in the form of a sterile injectable aqueous or oleagenous suspension. This suspension may be formulated according to the known art using those suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents which have been mentioned above. The sterile injectable preparation may also be a sterile injectable solution or suspension in a non-toxic parenterally-acceptable diluent or solvent, for example as a solution in 1,3-butane diol. Among the acceptable vehicles and solvents that may be employed are water, Ringer's solution and isotonic sodium chloride solution. In addition, sterile, fixed oils are conventionally employed as a solvent or suspending medium. For this purpose any bland fixed oil may be employed including synthetic mono- or diglycerides. In addition, fatty acids such as oleic acid find use in the preparation of injectables.

The compounds of the present invention may also be administered in the form of suppositories for rectal administration of the drug. These compositions can be prepared by mixing the drug with a suitable non-irritating excipient which is solid at ordinary temperatures but liquid at the rectal temperature and will therefore melt in the rectum to release the drug. Such materials include cocoa butter and polyethylene glycols. Additionally, the compounds can be administered via ocular delivery by means of solutions or ointments. Still further, transdermal delivery of the subject compounds can be accomplished by means of iontophoretic patches and the like. For topical use, creams, ointments, jellies, solutions or suspensions, etc., containing the compounds of the present invention are employed. As used herein, topical application is also meant to include the use of mouth washes and gargles.

The compounds of this invention may also be coupled a carrier that is a suitable polymers as targetable drug carriers. Such polymers can include polyvinylpyrrolidone, pyran copolymer, polyhydroxy-propyl-methacrylamide-phenol, polyhydroxyethyl-aspartamide-phenol, or polyethyleneoxide-polylysine substituted with palmitoyl residues. Furthermore, the compounds of the invention may be coupled to a carrier that is a class of biodegradable polymers useful in achieving controlled release of a drug, for example polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, copolymers of polylactic and polyglycolic acid, polyepsilon caprolactone, polyhydroxy butyric acid, polyorthoesters, polyacetals, polydihydropyrans, polycyanoacrylates and cross linked or amphipathic block copolymers of hydrogels. Polymers and semipermeable polymer matrices may be formed into shaped articles, such as valves, stents, tubing, prostheses and the like. In one embodiment of the invention, the compound of the invention is coupled to a polymer or semipermeable polymer matrix that is formed as a stent or stent-graft device.

V. Methods of Treating Diseases Modulated by CCR1

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides methods of treating CCR1-mediated conditions or diseases by administering to a subject having such a disease or condition, a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I above. The “subject” is defined herein to include animals such as mammals, including, but not limited to, primates (e.g., humans), cows, sheep, goats, horses, dogs, cats, rabbits, rats, mice and the like.

CCR1 provides a target for interfering with or promoting specific aspects of immune cell functions, or more generally, with functions associated with CCR1 expression on a wide range of cell types in a mammal, such as a human. Compounds that inhibit CCR1, are particularly useful for modulating monocyte, macrophage, lymphocyte, granulocyte, NK cell, mast cells, dendritic cell, neutrophils, and certain immune derived cell (for example, osteoclasts) function for therapeutic purposes. Accordingly, the present invention is directed to compounds which are useful in the prevention and/or treatment of a wide variety of inflammatory and immunoregulatory disorders and diseases (see Saeki, et al., Current Pharmaceutical Design 9:1201-1208 (2003)).

For example, an instant compound that inhibits one or more functions of CCR1 may be administered to inhibit (i.e., reduce or prevent) inflammation or cellular infiltration associated with an immune disorder. As a result, one or more inflammatory processes, such as leukocyte emigration or infiltration, chemotaxis, exocytosis (e.g., of enzymes, histamine) or inflammatory mediator release, can be inhibited. For example, monocyte infiltration to an inflammatory site (e.g., an affected joint in arthritis, or into the CNS in MS) can be inhibited according to the present method.

Similarly, an instant compound that promotes one or more functions of CCR1 is administered to stimulate (induce or enhance) an inflammatory response, such as leukocyte emigration, chemotaxis, exocytosis (e.g., of enzymes, histamine) or inflammatory mediator release, resulting in the beneficial stimulation of inflammatory processes. For example, monocytes can be recruited to combat bacterial infections.

Diseases and conditions associated with inflammation, immune disorders and infection can be treated using the method of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the disease or condition is one in which the actions of immune cells such monocyte, macrophage, lymphocyte, granulocyte, NK cell, mast cell, dendritic cell, or certain immune derived cell (for example, osteoclasts) are to be inhibited or promoted, in order to modulate the inflammatory or autoimmune response.

In one group of embodiments, diseases or conditions, including chronic diseases, of humans or other species can treated with modulators of CCR1 function. These diseases or conditions include: (1) allergic diseases such as systemic anaphylaxis or hypersensitivity responses, drug allergies, insect sting allergies and food allergies, (2) inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, ileitis and enteritis, (3) vaginitis, (4) psoriasis and inflammatory dermatoses such as dermatitis, eczema, atopic dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, urticaria and pruritus, (5) vasculitis, (6) spondyloarthropathies, (7) scleroderma, (8) asthma and respiratory allergic diseases such as allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis, hypersensitivity lung diseases and the like, (9) autoimmune diseases, such as fibromyalagia, scleroderma, ankylosing spondylitis, juvenile RA, Still's disease, polyarticular juvenile RA, pauciarticular juvenile RA, polymyalgia rheumatica, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, polyarticular arthritis, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, type I diabetes, type II diabetes, glomerulonephritis, and the like, (10) graft rejection (including allograft rejection and graft-v-host disease), and (11) other diseases in which undesired inflammatory responses or immune disorders are to be inhibited, such as cardiovascular disease including atherosclerosis and restenosis, myositis, neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's disease), encephalitis, meningitis, hepatitis, nephritis, sepsis, sarcoidosis, allergic conjunctivitis, otitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sinusitis, Behcet's syndrome and gout and (12) immune mediated food allergies such as Celiac disease.

In another group of embodiments, diseases or conditions can be treated with modulators of CCR1 function. Examples of diseases to be treated with modulators of CCR1 function include cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diseases in which angiogenesis or neovascularization play a role (neoplastic diseases, retinopathy and macular degeneration), infectious diseases (viral infections, e.g., HIV infection, and bacterial infections) and immunosuppressive diseases such as organ transplant conditions and skin transplant conditions. The term “organ transplant conditions” is meant to include bone marrow transplant conditions and solid organ (e.g., kidney, liver, lung, heart, pancreas or combination thereof) transplant conditions.

The compounds of the present invention are accordingly useful in the prevention and treatment of a wide variety of inflammatory and immunoregulatory disorders and diseases.

Depending on the disease to be treated and the subject's condition, the compounds of the present invention may be administered by oral, parenteral (e.g., intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intravenous, ICV, intracistemal injection or infusion, subcutaneous injection, or implant), by implantation (e.g., as when the compound is coupled to a stent device), by inhalation spray, nasal, vaginal, rectal, sublingual, or topical routes of administration and may be formulated, alone or together, in suitable dosage unit formulations containing conventional non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, adjuvants and vehicles appropriate for each route of administration.

In the treatment or prevention of conditions which require chemokine receptor modulation an appropriate dosage level will generally be about 0.001 to 100 mg per kg patient body weight per day which can be administered in single or multiple doses. Preferably, the dosage level will be about 0.01 to about 25 mg/kg per day; more preferably about 0.05 to about 10 mg/kg per day. A suitable dosage level may be about 0.01 to 25 mg/kg per day, about 0.05 to 10 mg/kg per day, or about 0.1 to 5 mg/kg per day. Within this range the dosage may be 0.005 to 0.05, 0.05 to 0.5 or 0.5 to 5.0 mg/kg per day. For oral administration, the compositions are preferably provided in the form of tablets containing 1.0 to 1000 milligrams of the active ingredient, particularly 1.0, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0, 20.0, 25.0, 50.0, 75.0, 100.0, 150.0, 200.0, 250.0, 300.0, 400.0, 500.0, 600.0, 750.0, 800.0, 900.0, and 1000.0 milligrams of the active ingredient for the symptomatic adjustment of the dosage to the patient to be treated. The compounds may be administered on a regimen of 1 to 4 times per day, preferably once or twice per day.

It will be understood, however, that the specific dose level and frequency of dosage for any particular patient may be varied and will depend upon a variety of factors including the activity of the specific compound employed, the metabolic stability and length of action of that compound, the age, body weight, hereditary characteristics, general health, sex and diet of the subject, as well as the mode and time of administration, rate of excretion, drug combination, and the severity of the particular condition for the subject undergoing therapy.

Diseases and conditions associated with inflammation, immune disorder, infection and cancer can be treated or prevented with the present compounds, compositions, and methods.

The compounds and compositions of the present invention can be combined with other compounds and compositions having related utilities to prevent and treat the condition or disease of interest, such as inflammatory or autoimmune disorders, conditions and diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, polyarticular arthritis, multiple sclerosis, allergic diseases, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and asthma, and those pathologies noted above.

For example, in the treatment or prevention of inflammation or autoimmunity or for example arthritis associated bone loss, the present compounds and compositions may be used in conjunction with an anti-inflammatory or analgesic agent such as an opiate agonist, a lipoxygenase inhibitor, such as an inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, such as a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, an interleukin inhibitor, such as an interleukin-1 inhibitor, an NMDA antagonist, an inhibitor of nitric oxide or an inhibitor of the synthesis of nitric oxide, a non steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, or a cytokine-suppressing anti-inflammatory agent, for example with a compound such as acetaminophen, aspirin, codeine, fentanyl, ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketorolac, morphine, naproxen, phenacetin, piroxicam, a steroidal analgesic, sufentanyl, sunlindac, tenidap, and the like. Similarly, the instant compounds and compositions may be administered with an analgesic listed above; a potentiator such as caffeine, an H2 antagonist (e.g., ranitidine), simethicone, aluminum or magnesium hydroxide; a decongestant such as phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine, pseudoephedrine, oxymetazoline, ephinephrine, naphazoline, xylometazoline, propylhexedrine, or levo desoxy ephedrine; an antitussive such as codeine, hydrocodone, caramiphen, carbetapentane, or dextromethorphan; a diuretic; and a sedating or non sedating antihistamine.

Likewise, compounds and compositions of the present invention may be used in combination with other drugs that are used in the treatment, prevention, suppression or amelioration of the diseases or conditions for which compounds and compositions of the present invention are useful. Such other drugs may be administered, by a route and in an amount commonly used therefor, contemporaneously or sequentially with a compound or composition of the present invention. When a compound or composition of the present invention is used contemporaneously with one or more other drugs, a pharmaceutical composition containing such other drugs in addition to the compound or composition of the present invention is preferred. Accordingly, the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention include those that also contain one or more other active ingredients or therapeutic agents, in addition to a compound or composition of the present invention. Examples of other therapeutic agents that may be combined with a compound or composition of the present invention, either administered separately or in the same pharmaceutical compositions, include, but are not limited to: (a) VLA-4 antagonists, (b) corticosteroids, such as beclomethasone, methylprednisolone, betamethasone, prednisone, prenisolone, dexamethasone, fluticasone, hydrocortisone, budesonide, triamcinolone, salmeterol, salmeterol, salbutamol, formeterol; (c) immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine (cyclosporine A, Sandimmune®, Neoral®), tacrolirnus (FK-506, Prograt®), rapamycin (sirolimus, Rapamune®) and other FK-506 type immunosuppressants, and mycophenolate, e.g., mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept®); (d) antihistamines (H1-histamine antagonists) such as bromopheniramine, chlorpheniramine, dexchloipheniramine, triprolidine, clemastine, diphenhydramine, diphenylpyraline, tripelennamine, hydroxyzine, methdilazine, promethazine, trimeprazine, azatadine, cyproheptadine, antazoline, pheniramine pyrilamine, astemizole, terfenadine, loratadine, cetirizine, fexofenadine, descarboethoxyloratadine, and the like; (e) non steroidal anti asthmatics (e.g., terbutaline, metaproterenol, fenoterol, isoetharine, albuterol, bitolterol and pirbuterol), theophylline, cromolyn sodium, atropine, ipratropium bromide, leukotriene antagonists (e.g., zafinlukast, montelukast, pranlukast, iralukast, pobilukast and SKB-106,203), leukotriene biosynthesis inhibitors (zileuton, BAY-1005); (f) non steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) such as propionic acid derivatives (e.g., alminoprofen, benoxaprofen, bucloxic acid, carprofen, fenbufen, fenoprofen, fluprofen, flurbiprofen, ibuprofen, indoprofen, ketoprofen, miroprofen, naproxen, oxaprozin, pirprofen, pranoprofen, suprofen, tiaprofenic acid and tioxaprofen), acetic acid derivatives (e.g., indomethacin, acemetacin, alclofenac, clidanac, diclofenac, fenclofenac, fenclozic acid, fentiazac, furofenac, ibufenac, isoxepac, oxpinac, sulindac, tiopinac, tolmetin, zidometacin and zomepirac), fenamic acid derivatives (e.g., flufenamic acid, meclofenamic acid, mefenamic acid, niflumic acid and tolfenamic acid), biphenylcarboxylic acid derivatives (e.g., diflunisal and flufenisal), oxicams (e.g., isoxicam, piroxicam, sudoxicam and tenoxican), salicylates (e.g., acetyl salicylic acid and sulfasalazine) and the pyrazolones (e.g., apazone, bezpiperylon, feprazone, mofebutazone, oxyphenbutazone and phenylbutazone); (g) cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors such as celecoxib (Celebrex®) and rofecoxib (Vioxx®); (h) inhibitors of phosphodiesterase type IV (PDE IV); (i) gold compounds such as auranofin and aurothioglucose, (j) etanercept (Enbrel®), (k) antibody therapies such as orthoclone (OKT3), daclizumab (Zenapax®), basiliximab (Simulect®) and infliximab (Remicade®), (l) other antagonists of the chemokine receptors, especially CCR5, CXCR2, CXCR3, CCR2, CCR3, CCR4, CCR7, CX₃CR1 and CXCR6; (m) lubricants or emollients such as petrolatum and lanolin, (n) keratolytic agents (e.g., tazarotene), (o) vitamin D₃ derivatives, e.g., calcipotriene or calcipotriol (Dovonex®), (p) PUVA, (q) anthralin (Drithrocreme®), (r) etretinate (Tegison®) and isotretinoin and (s) multiple sclerosis therapeutic agents such as interferon β-1β (Betaserong), interferon (β-1α (Avonex®), azathioprine (Imurek®, Imuran®), glatiramer acetate (Capoxone®), a glucocorticoid (e.g., prednisolone) and cyclophosphamide (t) DMARDS such as methotrexate (u) other compounds such as 5-aminosalicylic acid and prodrugs thereof; hydroxychloroquine; D-penicillamine; antimetabolites such as azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine and methotrexate; DNA synthesis inhibitors such as hydroxyurea and microtubule disrupters such as colchicine. The weight ratio of the compound of the present invention to the second active ingredient may be varied and will depend upon the effective dose of each ingredient. Generally, an effective dose of each will be used. Thus, for example, when a compound of the present invention is combined with an NSAID the weight ratio of the compound of the present invention to the NSAID will generally range from about 1000:1 to about 1:1000, preferably about 200:1 to about 1:200. Combinations of a compound of the present invention and other active ingredients will generally also be within the aforementioned range, but in each case, an effective dose of each active ingredient should be used.

VI. EXAMPLES

The following examples are offered to illustrate, but not to limit the claimed invention.

Reagents and solvents used below can be obtained from commercial sources such as Aldrich Chemical Co. (Milwaukee, Wis., USA). ¹H-NMR spectra were recorded on a Varian Mercury 400 MHz NMR spectrometer. Significant peaks are provided relative to TMS and are tabulated in the order: multiplicity (s, singlet; d, doublet; t, triplet; q, quartet; m, multiplet) and number of protons. Mass spectrometry results are reported as the ratio of mass over charge, followed by the relative abundance of each ion (in parenthesis). In the examples, a single m/e value is reported for the M+H (or, as noted, M−H) ion containing the most common atomic isotopes. Isotope patterns correspond to the expected formula in all cases. Electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry analysis was conducted on a Hewlett-Packard MSD electrospray mass spectrometer using the HP1100 HPLC for sample delivery. Normally the analyte was dissolved in methanol at 0.1 mg/mL and 1 microlitre was infused with the delivery solvent into the mass spectrometer, which scanned from 100 to 1500 daltons. All compounds could be analyzed in the positive ESI mode, using acetonitrile /water with 1% formic acid as the delivery solvent. The compounds provided below could also be analyzed in the negative ESI mode, using 2 mM NH₄OAc in acetonitrile/water as delivery system.

Compounds within the scope of this invention can be synthesized as described below, using a variety of reactions known to the skilled artisan. A sample of useful routes to the azaindazole derivatives and certain compounds of the invention are provided below or elsewhere within the present application. In the descriptions of the syntheses that follow, some of the arylpiperazine and heteroaromatic subunit precursors were obtained from commercial sources. These commercial sources include Aldrich Chemical Co., Acros Organics, Ryan Scientific Incorporated, Oakwood Products Incorporated, Lancaster Chemicals, Sigma Chemical Co., Lancaster Chemical Co., TCI-America, Alfa Aesar, Davos Chemicals, and GFS Chemicals. Certain relevant arylpiperazine compounds can be commercially obtained. Others could be prepared as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/008,774, the contents of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety for all purposes. Also, standard chemistries have been employed to link the arylpiperazine and heteroaromatic subunits (whether commercially obtained or prepared by the methods below) using a suitably optimized linker, such as the acetyl unit described in the body of this invention.

One skilled in the art will also recognize that alternative methods may be employed to synthesize the target compounds of this invention, and that the approaches described within the body of this document are not exhaustive, but do provide broadly applicable and practical routes to compounds of interest.

Certain molecules claimed in this patent can exist in different enantiomeric and diastereomeric forms and all such variants of these compounds are claimed.

Regioisomerism is a common property in organic chemistry, and is especially common with regards to certain structural types provided herein. Those skilled in the art will recognize, with respect to the compounds described herein, that the coupling reactions with the heteroaromatic ring systems can lead to either one of or a mixture of detectable regioisomers.

The detailed description of the experimental procedures used to synthesize key compounds in this text lead to molecules that are described by the physical data identifying them as well as by the structural depictions associated with them.

Those skilled in the art will also recognize that during standard work up procedures in organic chemistry, acids and bases are frequently used. Salts of the parent compounds are sometimes produced, if they possess the necessary intrinsic acidity or basicity, during the experimental procedures described within this patent.

Example 1 Synthesis of 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine

2-Chloro-3-formylpyridine (15.02 g, 106 mmol, 1 equiv), hydrazine (10 mL, excess), and dioxane (90 mL) were combined in a sealed tube and heated at 150° C. for 16 hr. After cooling to room temperature, the solvent was evaporated in vacuo to provide a crude residue which was diluted with dichloromethane (600 mL). The organic solution was washed with water (50 mL), brine (50 mL) and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was removed in vacuo to provide 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine as a yellow powder which was used without further purification: LCMS (ES) M+H 120.3, R_(f) 0.20 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B; A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile).

Example 2 Synthesis of 3-Thiazol-2-yl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine

To a suspension of 2-chloro-3-[(2-thiazolyl)carbonyl]pyridine (257.5 mg, 1.2 mmol, 1 equiv) in dioxane (3 mL) in a sealed tube was added hydrazine (2 mL). The mixture was heated at 150° C. overnight, cooled to room temperature and concentrated in vacuo to provide a crude residue. The resultant residue was diluted with dichloromethane (300 mL), washed with water (50 mL) and brine (50 mL). The organic layer was separated, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to provide 3-thiazol-2-yl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine (212.3 mg) as a yellow powder which used without further purification: LCMS (ES) M+H 203.5, R_(f) 2.68 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B; A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile).

Example 3 Synthesis of 1H-Pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-ylamine

2-Chloro-3-cyanopyridine (2.77 g), hydrazine (5 mL), and dioxane (100 mL) were combined in a sealed tube and heated at 150° C. for 16 hr. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and concentrated in vacuo to provide a crude residue. The resultant residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate (100 mL) and washed with saturated NaCl solution (50 mL). The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo to afford 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-ylamine as a yellow solid which was used without further purification.

Example 4 Synthesis of 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridine

Preparation of 3-N-acetylamino-4-methylpyridine: To solution of 3-amino-4-methylpyridine (540.2 mg, 5.0 mmol, 1 equiv) in dichloromethane (20 mL) was added pyridine (0.8 mL, 10.0 mmol, 2 equiv) and acetic anhydride (0.57 mL, 6.0 mmol, 1.2 equiv). The resultant solution was stirred at room temperature for 16 h and concentrated in vacuo to provide a crude residue. The residue was diluted with dichloromethane (200 mL), and washed with saturated sodium bicarbonate aqueous solution (50 mL) and brine (50 mL). The organic layer was separated, dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuo to yield 3-acetylamino-4-methylpyridine (400.2 mg) as yellow solid which was used without further purification.

Preparation of 1-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridin-1-yl-ethanone: To a suspension of 3-acetylamino-4-methylpyridine (301.5 mg, 2.0 mmol, 1 equiv) in toluene (3 mL) was added tert-butyl nitrite (t-BuONO) (420 μL, 3.2 mmol, 1.6 equiv), acetic anhydride (560 μL, 6.0 mmol, 3 equiv) and potassium acetate (235.2 mg, 2.4 mmol, 1.2 equiv). The resultant mixture was heated at 80° C. for 2 hours, cooled to room temperature, and diluted with ethyl acetate (200 mL). The mixture was washed with saturated sodium bicarbonate solution (50 mL), water (50 mL) and brine (50 mL). The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to provide a crude residue. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (silica, 15% ethyl acetate/hexane to 50% ethyl acetate/hexane) to give 1-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridin-1-yl-ethanone (20.2 mg) which was used without further purification.

Synthesis of 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridine: To a solution of 1-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridin-1-yl-ethanone (20.2 mg, 0.17 mmol, 1 equiv) in tetrahydrofuran (2 mL) and methanol (0.5 mL) was added sodium hydroxide aqueous solution (2M, 0.25 mL). The reaction solution was stirred at room temperature for 1 hr and then concentrated in vacuo to provide a crude residue. The crude residue was diluted with water (20 mL) and extracted with dichloromethane (2×100 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuo to provide 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridine as white powder, which used without further purification: LCMS (ES) M+H 120.3, R_(f) 0.22 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B; A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile).

Example 5 Synthesis of 3-Iodo-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine

To a solution of 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine (500.0 mg, 4.2 mmol, 1 equiv) in DMF (10 mL) at 0° C., was added iodine (2.13 g, 8.4 mmol, 2 equiv) and potassium hydroxide (943 mg, 16.8 mmol, 4 equiv). The resultant mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature and stirred for 1 hour. The reaction solution was slowly quenched with saturated sodium thiosulfate (Na₂S₂O₅) solution (10 mL), and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×200 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with water (3×50 mL), brined (50 mL), dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to give 3-Iodo-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine (1.02 g) as a yellow powder which was used without further purification: LCMS (ES) M+H 246.2, R_(f) 2.17 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B; A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile).

Example 6 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxyphenyl)-2-(S)-methylpiperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-ylethanone and 1-[4-(4-chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxyphenyl)-2-(S)-methylpiperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-2-ylethanone

2-Chloro-1-[4-(4-chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxyphenyl)-2-(S)-methylpiperazin 1-yl]ethanone (arylpiperazine) (4.81 g, 14.32 mmol, 1 equiv), 1H-pyrazole[3,4-b]pyridine (2.27 g, 17.18 mmol, 1.2 equiv), and potassium carbonate (20.00 g, 143.2 mmol, 10 equiv) were dissolved in dimethylformamide (DMF) (10 mL) and heated at 80° C. for 1 hour, then cooled to room temperature. The resultant mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate (300 mL), and washed with water (3×150 mL) and brine (100 mL). The organic layer was dried (Na₂SO₄) and concentrated in vacuo to provide a crude residue. The crude residue was purified by flash chromatography (silica, 100% ethyl acetate with 1% triethylamine to 100% acetone with 1% triethylamine) provided 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxyphenyl)-2-(S)-methylpiperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-ylethanone (2.3 g) and 1-[4-(4-chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxyphenyl)-2-(S)-methylpiperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-2-ylethanone (2.5 g).

For 1-[4-(4-chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-(S)-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl-ethanone; LCMS (ES) M+H 418.5, R_(f)2.34 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B; A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile): For 1-[4-(4-chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxyphenyl)-2-(S)-methylpiperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-2-ylethanone; LCMS (ES) M+H 418.5, R_(f) 2.00 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B; A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile).

Example 7 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-(S)-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-oxazol-2-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone

Preparation of 1-[4-(4-chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-(S)-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-iodo-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone: This compound was synthesized according to the synthetic procedure outlined in Example 6.

Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-(S)-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-oxazol-2-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone: To a solution of oxazole (40 μL, 0.54 mmol, 3 equiv) in tetrahydrofuran (1 mL) under nitrogen atmosphere, was added dropwise n-butyl lithium (2.5 M in Hexane, 220 μL, 0.54 mmol, 3 equiv.). The resultant mixture was stirred at −78° C. for an additional 30 min followed by the addition of ZnCl₂ (0.5M in THF, 1.5 mL, 0.72 mmol, 4 equiv.). The reaction solution was allowed to warm to 0° C. and stirred 1 hr followed by the addition of 1-[4-(4-chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-(S)-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-iodo-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone (100.2 mg, 0.18 mmol, 1 equiv) and palladium tetrakis(triphenylphosphine) (22.3 mg, 0.018, 0.1 equiv). The reaction mixture was then heated to reflux for 48 hr, cooled to room temperature and diluted with ethyl acetate (150 mL). The reaction mixture was washed with water (20 mL), brine (20 mL), dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuo to provide the crude product. Purification by preparative HPLC provided the desired product 1-[4-(4-chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-(S)-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-oxazol-2-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone as a white powder (38.5 mg): LCMS (ES) M+H 485.5, R_(f) 2.56 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B; A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile).

Example 8 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-ylethanone and 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-2-ylethanone

The two title compounds were synthesized according to the synthetic procedure as outlined in Example 6: For 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-ylethanone; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.57 (dd, 1H), 8.11(s, 1H), 8.09 (dd, 1H), 7.22(d, 1H), 7.17 (dd, 1H), 6.49 (d, 1H), 6.42 (dd, 1H), 5.44 (s, 2H), 3.92 (s, 3H), 3.79 (m, 4H), 3.18 (m, 4H); MS (M+H)⁺: 386.5: For 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-2-ylethanone; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.65 (dd, 1H), 8.12(s, 1H), 8.02 (dd, 1H), 7.20(d, 1H), 7.03 (dd, 1H), 6.45 (d, 1H), 6.40 (dd, 1H), 5.35 (s, 2H), 3.88 (s, 3H), 3.87 (m, 2H), 3.79 (m, 2H), 3.15 (m, 4H); MS (M+H)⁺: 386.5.

Example 9 Synthesis of 1H-Pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine

1H-Pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine was prepared according to the procedure outlined in Example 1.

Example 10 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxyphenyl)-2-(S)-methylpiperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine-1-yl-ethanone and 1-[4-(4-chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxyphenyl)-2-(S)-methylpiperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine-2-yl-ethanone

The two title compounds were synthesized according to the procedure as outlined in Example 6. For 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxyphenyl)-2-(S)-methylpiperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine-1-yl-ethanone: LCMS (ES) M+H 418.5, R_(f) 1.74 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B; A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile): For 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxyphenyl)-2-(S)-methylpiperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine-2-yl-ethanone; LCMS (ES) M+H 418.5, R_(f) 1.69 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B; A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile).

Example 11 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridine-1-yl-ethanone and 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridine-2-yl-ethanone

The two title compounds were synthesized according to the procedure outlined in Example 6: For 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridine-1-yl-ethanone; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 9.02 (s, 1H), 8.34 (d, 1H), 8.09 (d, 1H), 7.63 (dd, 1H), 7.22 (d, 1H), 6.48 (d, 1H), 6.42 (dd, 1H), 5.38 (s, 2H), 3.88 (s, 3H), 3.79 (m, 4H), 3.14 (m, 4H) MS (M+H)⁺, 386.5: For 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridine-2-yl-ethanone; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃)) 9.22 (s, 1H), 8.13 (d, 1H), 8.10 (d, 1H), 7.50 (dd, 1H), 7.19 (d, 1H), 6.45 (d, 1H), 6.39 (dd, 1H), 5.37 (s, 2H), 3.85 (s, 3H), 3.76 (m, 4H), 3.14 (m, 4H). MS (M+H)⁺, 386.5.

Example 12 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl-ethanone and 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-2-yl-ethanone

The two title compounds were synthesized according to the procedure outlined in Example 6. For 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl-ethanone: LCMS (ES) M+H, 404.5, R_(f)2.14 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B; A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid/5% water/94.9% acetonitrile): For 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-2-yl-ethanone; LCMS (ES) M+H, 404.5, R_(f) 1.76 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B; A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile).

Example 13 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-(S)-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-thiazol-2-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone

The title compound was synthesized according to the procedure outlined in Example 6: LCMS (ES) M+H 501.5, R_(f)2.82 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B; A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile).

Example 14 Synthesis 3-pyrid-2-yl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine

The title compound was synthesized according to the procedure outlined in Example 2.

Example 15 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-(S)-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-pyridin-2-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone

The title compound was synthesized according to the procedure outlined in Example 6: LCMS (ES) M+H 495.54, R_(f) 2.73 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B; A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile).

Example 16 Synthesis of 3-Chloro-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine

1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine (89 mg) and N-chlorosuccinimide (220 mg) were combined in CH₂Cl₂ (4 mL) and heated at 45° C. for 16 hr, then cooled to room temperature. The resultant mixture was purified by flash chromatography (silica gel, 50% hexane/ethyl acetate) to afford 3-chloro-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine.

Example 17 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-chloropyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)ethanone

The title compound was synthesized according to the procedure outlined in Example 6: LCMS (ES) M+H 420.5, R_(f)2.37 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B; A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile).

Example 18 Synthesis of 3-Methyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine

To a solution of 2-chloro-3-cyanopyridine (139 mg) in tetrahydrofuran (5 mL) at 0° C. was added dropwise a solution of MeMgBr (3M in ether, 0.67 mL). The resultant mixture was warmed to room temperature and stirred for 3 hr. The reaction solution was cooled to 0° C. and to it was added aqueous HCl solution (2M, 5 mL). The reaction solution was then stirred an additional 16 hr at room temperature and then neutralized by the addition of saturated sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) solution. The reaction solution was filtered to remove any precipitates and the filtrate was washed with ethyl acetate (3×10 mL) and aqueous brine (NaCl) solution (10 mL). The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄), filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give 3-acetyl-2-chloropyridine as a yellow powder which was used without further purification. The title compound (3-Methyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine) was synthesized from 3-acetyl-2-chloropyridine according to the procedure outlined in Example 2.

Example 19 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-methylpyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)ethanone

The title compound was synthesized according to the procedure outlined in Example 6: LCMS (ES) M+H 400.5, R_(f) 2.12 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B; A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile).

Example 20 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxyphenyl)-2-methylpiperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-methylpyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)ethanone

The title compound was synthesized according to the procedure outlined in Example 6: LCMS (ES) M+H 432.5, R_(f)2.42 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B; A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile).

Example 21 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-pyridin-2-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)ethanone

The title compound was synthesized according to the procedure outlined in Example 6: LCMS (ES) M+H 463.5, R_(f)2.32 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B; A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile).

Example 22 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-thiazol-2-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)ethanone

The title compound was synthesized according the procedure outlined in Example 6: LCMS (ES) M+H 469.5, R_(f) 2.43 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1-ml/min-flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min-wash at 100% B; A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile).

Example 23 Synhesis of 2-(3-Aminopyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-1-[4-(4-chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxyphenyl)-2-methylpiperazin-1-yl]ethanone

1H-Pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-ylamine (67 mg), 2-Chloro-1-[4-(4-chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-ethanone (167 mg) and K₂CO₃ (414 mg) were combined in DMF (1 mL) and heated at 80° C. for 2 hr, then cooled to room temperature. The resultant mixture was purified by preparative HPLC to provide 2-(3-Aminopyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-1-[4-(4-chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxyphenyl)-2-methylpiperazin-1-yl]ethanone as a yellow powder. LCMS (ES) M+H 433.5, R_(f) 2.06 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B; A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile).

Example 24 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-oxazol-2-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone

The title was synthesized according to the procedure outlined in Example 7: LCMS (ES) M+H 453.5, R_(f) 2.20 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 51, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B; A=0.1% formica acid/5% acetonitrile/94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid/5% water/94.9% acetonitrile).

Example 25 Synthesis of 3-Fluoro-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine

The title was synthesized according to the procedure outlined in Example 5 using SelectFluor™ (1-Chloromethyl-4-fluoro-1,4-diazoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane bis(tetrafluoroborate)) as the electrophile.

Example 26 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-fluoro-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone

The title compound was synthesized according to the procedure outlined in Example 6: LCMS (ES) M+H 404.5, R_(f)2.27 ml (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 ms gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B; A=0.1 formic acid/5% acetonitrile/94.9% water, B=0.08% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile).

Example 27 Synthesis of 1-{2-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-3-carbonitrile

1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-iodo-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone (128 mg) and CuCN (112 mg) were combined in N-methylpyridone (NMP) (1 mL) and heated at 165° C. for 16 hr, then cooled to room temperature. The reaction mixture was purified on preparative HPLC to afford 1-{2-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-3-carbonitrile as a white powder: LCMS (ES) M+H 411.5, R_(f) 2.33 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B; A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile).

Example 28 Synthesis of 1H-pyrazolo[4,3-b]pyridine

1H-pyrazolo[4,3-b]pyridine was synthesized according to the procedure outlined in Example 4: LCMS (ES) M+H 120.3.

Example 29 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[4,3-b]pyridine-1-yl-ethanone and 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[4,3-b]pyridine-2-yl-ethanone

The two title compounds were synthesized according to the procedure outlined in Example 6: For 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[4,3-b]pyridine-1-yl-ethanone; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 8.71 (dd, 1H), 8.26 (s, 1H), 8.04 (dd, 1H), 7.36 (dd, 1H), 7.20 (d, 1H), 6.69 (d, 1H), 6.51 (dd, 1H), 5.57 (s, 2H), 3.82 (s, 3H), 3.73 (m, 2H), 3.59 (m, 2H), 3.31 (m, 2H), 3.19 (m, 2H). LCMS (ES) M+H 386.5, R_(f) 1.84 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B; A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile/94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile). For 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[4,3-b]pyridine-2-yl-ethanone; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.55 (d, 1H), 8.34 (s, 1H), 7.99 (d, 1H), 7.19 (m, 2H), 6.44 (d, 1H), 6.40 (dd, 1H), 5.34 (s, 2H), 3.86 (s, 3H), 3.77 (m, 2H), 3.72 (m, 2H), 3.13 (m, 4H). LCMS (ES) M+H 386.5, R_(f) 1.69 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B; A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile).

Example 30 Synthesis of 2-(3-Chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-2-yl)-acetic acid

Preparation of pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-2-yl-acetic acid ethyl ester: This compound was synthesized according to the procedure outlined in Example 6, using chloro-acetic acid ethyl ester in place of 2-Chloro-1-[4-(4-chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxyphenyl)-2-(S)-methylpiperazin-1-yl]ethanone.

Preparation of (3-Chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-2-yl)-acetic acid ethyl ester: To a solution of pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-2-yl-acetic acid ethyl ester 57 (40.2 mg, 0.2 mmol, 1 equiv) in 1 mL of dichloromethane was added NCS (32.7 mg, 1.2 mmol, 1.2 equiv). The resultant mixture was heated at 70° C. for 30 min., cooled to room temperature, and diluted with 100 mL of dichloromethane. The organic solution was washed with 50 mL of saturated sodium bicarbonate aqueous solution, and 50 mL of brine. The organic layer was separated and dried over sodium sulfate. Evaporation of solvent in vacuo gave 46.7 mg of (3-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-2-yl)-acetic acid ethyl ester as yellow solid.

Synthesis of 2-(3-Chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-2-yl)-acetic acid: (3-Chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-2-yl)-acetic acid ethyl ester was treated with 1N lithium hydroxide (LiOH) (1 equiv) in 1 mL of MeOH to provide 2-(3-Chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-2-yl)-acetic acid, which was used as directly in subsequent reactions without further purification: LCMS(ES) M+H 212.0, R_(f) 0.34 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B; A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water /94.9% acetonitrile).

Example 31 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-2-yl)-ethanone

The title compound was synthesized according to standard amide formation conditions using 2-(7-Aza-1H-benzotriazole-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (HATU) as the coupling reagent: LCMS(ES) M+H 420.4, R_(f) 2.17 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B; A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water /94.9% acetonitrile.

Example 32 Synthesis of 2-(Pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl-7-oxide)-acetic acid

Preparation of 2-(Pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl-7-oxide)-acetic acid ethyl ester: To a solution of pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl-acetic acid ethyl ester (205.4 mg, 1 mmol, 1 equiv) in 10 mL of dichloromethane at 0° C., was added meta-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (mCPBA) (345.3 mg, 1.5 mmol, 1.5 equiv). The resultant mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature, and the reaction was stirred overnight. 1 mL of pyridine was added to the reaction mixture, and the mixture was stirred for another 30 min before the solvent was removed to provide a residue. The residue was diluted with 200 mL of dichloromethane, and washed with 1N NaOH aqueous solution (10 mL×2), brine (20 mL). The organic layer was separated and dried over sodium sulfate. Evaporation in vacuo gave 2-(pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl-7-oxide)-acetic acid ethyl ester as pale yellow solid, which was used without further purification: LCMS(ES) M+H 222.4, R_(f) 1.48 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B; A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water /94.9% acetonitrile.

Synthesis of 2-(Pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl-7-oxide)-acetic acid: 2-(pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl-7-oxide)-acetic acid ethyl ester was treated with 1N LiOH (1 equiv) in 1 mL of methanol (MeOH) to provide 2-(Pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl-7-oxide)-acetic acid: LCMS(ES) M+H 194.2, R_(f) 0.22 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B; A 0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water /94.9% acetonitrile

Example 33 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)piperazin-1-yl]-2-(pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl-7-oxide)-ethanone

The title compound was prepared according to standard amide formation conditions as described in Example 43 using HATU as the coupling reagent: LCMS(ES) M+H 402.5, R_(f) 1.54 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B; A=0.1% formic acid/5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water /94.9% acetonitrile.

Example 34 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(6-methyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone

2-chloro-3-cyano-6-picoline was reduced by diisobutylaluminum hydride (DIBAL-H) following a literature procedure (Baker et. al., J. Org. Chem., 1980, 45, 1354-1362.) followed by the hydrazine condensation protocol as described in Example 1 to provide the corresponding 6-Methyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine, which was then subjected to the alkylation protocol in described in Example 6 to provide title compound as a white powder: LCMS (ES) M+H 400.5, R_(f) 2.161 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 11.1 min wash at 100% B, A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile).

Example 35 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(6-methyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-2-yl)-ethanone

Preparation of (6-methyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-2-yl)-acetic acid ethyl ester: To a solution of 1H-6-methyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine (1 mmol, 1 eq.) in 3 mL of THF was added NaH (1.5 mmol, 1.5 eq.) portion by portion at 0° C. under nitrogen. The resultant mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 10 minutes followed by the slow addition of 2-chloro ethyl acetate (excess) at 0° C. The resultant mixture was slowly to warmed to rt, and stirred for another 2 h. To the reaction mixture was added saturated NH₄Cl aq. solution, and aqueous mixture was extracted with 300 mL of EtOAc. The organic extract was separated and washed with sat. sodium bicarbonate aq. solution, brine solution, filtered and dried over sodium sulfate. The organic solvent was removed in vacuo, and the crude residue was purified by silica gel chromatography to provide 50.2 mg desired product: HPLC retention time=0.78 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect=220.1, found=220.4.

Preparation of (6-methyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-2-yl)-acetic acid: This compound was synthesized according to standard ester hydrolysis protocol as described in Example 30 using 1N LiOH as the base. The isolated product was used in the next step without purification.

Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(6-methyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-2-yl)-ethanone: The title compound was synthesized according to standard peptide coupling protocol using HATU as the coupling reagent: ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.04 (s, 1H), 7.96 (d, 1H), 7.20 (d, 1H), 6.95 (d, 1H), 6.45(d, 1H), 6.40 (dd, 1H), 5.29 (s, 2H), 3.92 (m, 2H), 3.88(s, 3H), 3.78 (m, 2H), 3.13 (m, 4H). LCMS observed for (M+H)⁺: 400.5.

Example 36 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-morpholin-4-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone

A mixture of 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-iodo-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone (102.4 mg), morpholine (0.20 mL), Xantphos (35 mg), Pd₂(dba)₃ (18.3 mg) and Cs₂CO₃ (97 mg) in THF (1 mL) was heated to 80° C. for 12 h. The reaction mixture was allowed to cool to room temperature, diluted by EtOAc (3 mL) and filtered. The filtrate was evaporated in vacuo. The crude residue was purified by flash chromatography (silica, Hexane/EtOAc) to provide the title compound as a white powder: LCMS (ES) M+H 471.6, R_(f) 2.043 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B, A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile).

Example 37 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-(S)-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridin-1-yl-ethanone

The title compound was synthesized following the alkylation protocol as described in Example 6: LCMS (ES) M+H 418.4, R_(f) 2.055 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B, A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.08% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile).

Example 38 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(6-oxy-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone

A mixture of 6-azaindazole (119 mg), H₂O₂ (0.2 mL) in acetic acid (5 mL) was heated to 60° C. for 2 h. The resultant mixture was cooled to room temperature and concentrated in vacuo. The crude residue was dissolved in EtOAc (10 mL), washed with sat. aqueous NaHCO₃ solution (3 mL), dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated in vacuo. The crude product (the N-oxide) was subjected to the alkylation protocol as described in Example 6 to provide the title compound as a white powder: LCMS (ES) M+H 402.4, R_(f) 2.147 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B, A=0.1% formic acid 5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile).

Example 39 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(4-chloro-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine-2-yl)-ethanone

Preparation of 1H-4-chloro-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine: To a mixture of 2-chloro-4-iodopyridine-3-carbaldehyde (6.24 mmol, 1 eq.) and 5 mL of ethanol was added 4 mL of hydrazine (excess), the resultant mixture was stirred at rt for 6 h. The reaction solution was concentrated in vacuo, and the crude residue was diluted with 50 mL of water, and extracted with 500 mL of dichloromethane. The organic layer was then washed with brine, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated to provide a crude residue. To the crude residue was dissolved with 10 mL of dichloromethane and stirred for 5 minutes. The precipitated solids were isolated by filtration, washed with 2 mL of dichloromethane, and dried in vacuo to provided 350.2 mg of 1H-4-chloro-pyrazolo[4,3,c]pyridine: HPLC retention time=0.44 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expected=154.0, found=154.3.

Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(4-chloro-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine-2-yl)-ethanone: Using 1H-4-chloro-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine, the title compound was synthesized according to alkylation protocol in Example 6: ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.18 (d, 1H), 7.31(dd, 1H), 7.21 (d, 1H), 6.47 (d, 1H), 6.42 (dd, 1H), 5.28 (s, 2H), 3.88 (s, 3H), 3.77 (m, 4H), 3.14 (m, 4H). LCMS observed for (M+H)⁺: 420.4.

Example 40 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(4-iodo-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone and 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(4-iodo-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine-2-yl)-ethanone

Preparation of 1H-4-iodo-pyrazolo[3,4,b]pyridine: To a mixture of 2-chloro-4-iodopyridine-3-carbaldehyde (6.24 mmol, 1 eq.) and 5 mL of ethanol was added 4 mL of hydrazine (excess), the resultant mixture was stirred at rt for 6 h. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo and crude residue was diluted with 50 mL of water, and extracted with 500 mL of dichloromethane. The organic layer was washed with brine, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentration in vacuo to provide a crude residue. To this residue was added 10 mL of dichloromethane, the resultant mixture was stirred for 5 minutes which resulted in the precipation of the undesired cyclization isomer (1H-4-chloro-pyrazolo[4,3,c]pyridine) which was removed by filtration. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo, and purified be by silica gel column (35% acetone in hexane to 50% acetone in hexane) to provide 250.0 mg of 1H-4-iodo-pyrazolo[3,4,b]pyridine with a purity around 85%, which was used without further purification: HPLC retention time=1.22 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect=246.0, found=246.1.

Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(4-iodo-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone and 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(4-iodo-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine-2-yl)-ethanone: The title compounds were synthesized according to the standard alkylation procedure described in Example 6. For 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(4-iodo-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone: HPLC retention time=2.50 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect=512.0, found=512.4; For 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(4-iodo-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine-2-yl)-ethanone: HPLC retention time=2.23 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect=512.0, found=512.4

Example 41 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(4-methylsulfonyl-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone

A mixture of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(4-iodo-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone (0.1 mmol, 1 eq.), CuI (0.3 mmol, 3 eq.) and NaSO₂Me (0.3 mmol, 1 eq.) in 1 mL of DMSO was heated at 80° C. for 2 h. The reaction solution was cooled to rt, and diluted with 20 mL of sat. NH₄Cl aq. solution and 200 mL of EtOAc. The diluted mixture was stirred vigorously for 2 h. The organic layer was then separated, washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to provide the crude product. Purification by HPLC provided 40.2 mg desired product: ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.76 (d, 1H), 8.49(d, 1H), 7.65 (d, 1H), 7.23 (d, 1H), 6.50 (d, 1H), 6.44 (dd, 1H), 5.53 (s, 2H), 3.89 (s, 3H), 3.79 (m, 4H), 3.22 (m+s, 4H+3H). LCMS observed for (M+H)⁺: 464.4.

Example 42 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-amidomethyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone

Preparation of (3-methyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)acetic acid ethyl ester: This compound was synthesized following the alkylation protocol similar to the one described in Example 6: HPLC retention time=2.06 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 0% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect=220.1, found=220.4.

Preparation of [3-(bromomethyl)-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)acetic acid ethyl ester: A mixture of (3-methyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)ethyl acetate (2.5 mmol, 1 eq.), NBS (3.0 mmol, 1.2 eq.), and benzoly peroxide (0.05 mmol, 0.02 eq.) in 10 mL of CCl₄ was refluxed for 1.5 h. The resultant mixture was cooled to rt, and diluted with 500 mL of EtOAc. The resultant solution was then washed with 100 mL of sat. sodium bicarbonate aqueous solution, brine solution, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The crude residue was purified by silica gel chromatography (20% EtOAc in hexane to 35% EtOAc in hexane) to provide 450.2 mg of the desired product: HPLC retention time=2.50 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 0% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect=298.0, found=298.3.

Preparation of (3-azido-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)acetic acid ethyl ester: A mixture of (3-(bromomethyl)-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)acetic acid ethyl ester (0.5 mmol, 1 eq.) and sodium azide (1 mmol, 2 eq.) in 1 mL of DMF was heated at 80° C. for 1 h. The resultant mixture was cooled to rt, diluted with 150 mL of EtOAc, washed with water (40 mL×3), brine, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The solvent was removed in vacuo to provide 135.2 mg desired product: HPLC retention time 1.84 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid/5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect=261.1, found=261.4.

Preparation of [3-(azidomethyl)-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)acetic acid: This compound was synthesized according to standard hydrolysis protocol as described in Example 30 using 1N LiOH: HPLC retention time=1.94 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 0% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect=233.1, found=233.4.

Preparation of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-azidomethyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone: This compound was synthesized according to standard peptide coupling procedure as described below in Examle 43 using HATU as the coupling reagent: HPLC retention time=2.36 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile/94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect=441.2, found=441.5.

Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-amidomethyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone: To a solution of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-azidomethyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone (0.21 mmol, 1 eq.) in 2 mL of THF was added dropwise at rt a solution of tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine HCl salt in 0.5 mL of water. The resultant mixture was stirred at rt for 30 min. The reaction solution was concentrated in vacuo, and the crude residue was diluted with 150 mL of dichloromethane, washed with 25 mL of water, brine, and dried over sodium sulfate. The solvent was removed in vacuo, and the crude residue was purified by HPLC to provide 26.2 mg final product: ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.17 (dd, 1H), 8.15(dd, 1H), 7.22 (d, 1H), 7.12 (dd, 1H), 6.50 (d, 1H), 6.44 (dd, 1H), 5.40 (s, 2H), 4.25 (s, 2H), 3.89 (s, 3H), 3.77 (m, 4H), 3.19 (m, 4H). LCMS observed for (M+H)⁺: 416.4.

Example 43 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-sulfonic acid-methyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone

Preparation of [3-(sulfonic acid-methyl)-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl]acetic acid ethyl ester: A mixture of (3-(bromomethyl)-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)acetic acid ethyl ester (0.13 mmol, 1 eq.) and sodium sulfite (1.8 mmol, excess) in a mixture of 1 mL of DMF and 0.5 mL of water was heated at 80° C. for one hour. The resultant solution was cooled to rt, and the solvent was removed in vacuo. The residue was extracted with 1:1 MeOH: CH₂Cl₂ (30 mL×3). The combined organic extracts were dried in vacuo, and the crude residue was used without further purification: HPLC retention time=1.63 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 0% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect=300.1, found=300.5.

Preparation of [3-(sulfonic acid-methyl)-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl]acetic acid: This compound was synthesized according to standard hydrolysis protocol as described in Example 30 using 1N LiOH as the base. The crude product was used without further purification.

Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-sulfonic acid-methyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone: A mixture of sulfonic acid (100.2 mg, contain lots of inorganic salt), 1H-4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)piperazine 2× HCl salt (0.37 mmol, excess), and HATU (0.37 excess) was suspended in 3 mL of pyridine, stirred at rt for 3 h. The pyridine solvent was removed in vacuo, and the crude residue was extracted with dichloromethane (10 mL×3). The organic extracts were removed, and the crude residue was purified by HPLC to provide 10 mg of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-sulfonic acid-methyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone: HPLC retention time=0.28 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid 5% acetonitrile 94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect=480.1, found=480.5.

Example 44 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(5-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone

Preparation of (3-iodo-5-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)acetic acid ethyl ester: To a solution of (3-iodo-5-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)acetic acid ethyl ester (0.61, 1 eq.) in 2 mL of DMF was added N-chlorosuccinimide (NCS) (0.73, 1.2 eq.) as a solid. The resultant mixture was heated at 70° C. for 3 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to rt, and diluted with 250 mL of EtOAc. The diluted mixture was then washed with water (100 mL×3), brine, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The crude residue was purified by silica gel chromatography (15% EtOAc to 75% EtOAc in hexane) to provide 100.4 mg white solid as final product: HPLC retention time=2.48 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid 5% acetonitrile 94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect=365.9, found=366.3.

Preparation of (3-iodo-5-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)acetic acid: This compound was synthesized according to standard hydrolysis procedure as described in Example 30 using 1N LiOH: HPLC retention time=1.78 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid 5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect=337.9, found=337.9.

Preparation of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-iodo-5-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone: The title compound was synthesized according to standard peptide coupling protocol as described in Example 43 using HATU as the coupling reagent: HPLC retention time=2.71 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect 546.0, found=546.4.

Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(5-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone: To a solution of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-iodo-5-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone (0.037 mmol, 1 eq.) in 1.5 mL of dichloromethane under a nitrogen atmosphere cooled to −40° C., was added dropwise, 30 μl of 2.0 M solution of isopropyl magnesium chloride (0.056 mmol, 1.5 eq.) in THF. The resultant mixture was for 30 minutes at −40° C. followed by dropwise addition of an ammonium chloride aqueous (aq) solution at low temperature. The reaction solution was warmed to rt, diluted with 200 mL of EtOAc, washed with 50 mL of water, brine, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The crude residue was purified by HPLC to provide 5-mg final product: ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.44 (d, 1H), 8.05(m, 1H), 7.23 (d, 1H), 6.50 (d, 1H), 6.43 (dd, 1H), 5.42 (s, 2H), 3.89 (s, 3H), 3.76 (m, 4H), 3.20 (m, 4H). LCMS observed for (M+H)⁺: 421.1.

Example 45 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(4-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine-1-yl)-ethanone and 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(4-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine-2-yl)-ethanone

Preparation of 1H-4-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine: This compound was synthesized according to standard hydrazine cyclization protocol as described in Example 1: HPLC retention time=0.36 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 0% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect=155.0, found=155.0.

Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(4-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine-1-yl)-ethanone and 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(4-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine-2-yl)-ethanone: These compounds were synthesized using 1H-4-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine following the alkylation procedure as described in Example 6: For 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(4-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine-1-yl)-ethanone; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.76 (s, 1H), 8.22 (s, 1H), 7.22 (d, 1H), 6.54 (d, 1H), 6.44 (dd, 1H), 5.41 (s, 2H), 3.88 (s, 3H), 3.77 (m, 4H), 3.23 (m, 4H), LCMS observed for (M+H)⁺: 421.1: For 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(4-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine-2-yl)-ethanone; HPLC retention time=1.70 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect=421.1, found=421.1.

Example 46 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(4-methoxy-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrintidine-1-yl)-ethanone

To a solution of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(4-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine-1-yl)-ethanone (0.024 mmol, 1 eq.) in 1 mL of MeOH was added solid potassium carbonate (excess), the resultant mixture was heated at 70° C. for 30 minutes, then filtered and dried under vacuum. The crude product was purified by HPLC to provide the desired product as a white powder: ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.90 (s, 1H), 8.07 (s, 1H), 7.22 (d, 1H), 6.50 (d, 1H), 6.44 (dd, 1H), 5.29 (s, 2H), 3.90 (s, 3H), 3.81 (m, 4H), 3.19 (m, 4H), 2.25 (s, 3H). LCMS observed for (M+H)⁺: 418.9.

Example 47 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(6-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone and 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(6-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-2-yl)-ethanone

Preparation of (2,6-dichloro-3-pyridinyl)methanol: To a solution of 2,6-dichloro-3-nicotic acid (9 mmol, 1 eq.) in 10 mL of dry THF at 0° C., was added NaBH₄ (27 mmol, 3 eq.) portion by portion under nitrogen atmosphere. After the evolution of hydrogen gas subsided (which is observed as bubbling in the reaction mixture), BF₃.OMe₂ (27 mmol, 3 eq.) was added dropwise to the reaction mixture at 0° C. The resultant mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 20 minutes followed by the slow addition of sat. NH₄Cl aq. solution. The reaction solution was then warmed to rt, and extracted with 300 mL of EtOAc, and the organic layer was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to provide a white solid, which was used in subsequent reaction without further purification: HPLC retention time=0.71 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect=178.0, found=178.0.

Preparation of 2,6-dichloro-3-formylpyridine: To a solution of the above alcohol (2 mmol, 1 eq.) in 10 mL of dichloromethane was added potassium carbonate (excess) as a solid, and Dess-Martin periodinate (2 mmol, 1 eq.) at rt. The resultant mixture was stirred at rt for 30 minutes. A 5% sodium thiosulfate aq. solution was added to the reaction mixture and the resultant mixture was stirred for another 10 minutes. The reaction mixture was extracted with 300 mL of EtOAc, and the organic layer was washed with 50 ml of 5% sodium thiosulfate aq. solution, Sat. sodium bicarbonate aq. solution, brine, and dried over sodium sulfate. Evaporation of solvent in vacuo to provide 200.1 mg of the desired product as a white solid: ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 10.37 (s, 1H), 8.17(d, 1H), 7.42 (d, 1H).

Preparation of 6-choloro-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine: To a solution of 2,6-dichloro-3-formylpyridine (0.89 mmol, 1 eq.) in 3 ml THF was added hydrazine (1.06 mmol, 1.2 eq.) at rt. The resultant solution was heated at 120° C. in sealed tube for overnight. The solvent was removed in vacuo, and the residue was dry loaded on silica gel column. Purification by silica gel chromatography provide 29.5 mg final product: HPLC retention time=2.17 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 0% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect=154.0, found=154.0.

Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(6-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone and 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(6-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-2-yl)-ethanone: The two title compounds were synthesized according to the standard coupling procedure described in Example 6: For 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(6-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.08 (s, 1H), 8.01(d, 1H), 7.25 (d, 1H), 7.16 (d, 1H), 6.50(d, 1H), 6.45 (dd, 1H), 5.40 (s, 2H), 3.90 (s, 3H), 3.77 (m, 4H), 3.23 (m, 4H). LCMS observed for (M+H)⁺: 420.5: For 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(6-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-2-yl)-ethanone: HPLC retention time=1.66 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile). LCMS observed for (M+H)⁺: 420.5.

Example 48 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(6-azido-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone

Preparation of 1H-6-hydrazo-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyridine: To a solution of 2,6-dichloro-3-pyridinecarbaldehyde in 2 mL of dioxane was added excess amount of hydrazine. The resultant solution was heated at 150° C. overnight. Upon cooling to rt, the desired product precipitated out of solution as a white solid. The crude product was isolated by filtration, washed with a small amount of dioxane, and dried in vacuo. The crude product was used without further purification: HPLC retention time=1.78 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect=337.9, found=337.9.

Preparation of 1H-6-azido-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyridine: 1H-6-hydrazo-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyridine was suspended into a mixture of 5 mL of concentrated HCl and 10 mL of water at 0° C., and to it was added dropwise a solution of sodium nitrate in 5 mL of water. The resultant mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 10 min and warmed to rt. The reaction mixture was neutralized to pH=7˜8, and extracted with (200 mL×2) EtOAc. The combined organic extract was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to provide the desired product which was used without further purification: HPLC retention time=0.50 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect=161.0, found=160.8.

Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(6-azido-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone: The title compound was synthesized according to alkylation protocol described in Example 6: HPLC retention time=2.22 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile/94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect 427.1, found=427.1.

Example 49 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(6-amido-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone

To a solution of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(6-azido-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone (0.071 mmol, 1 eq.) in 1 mL of EtOAc was added SnCl₂.2H₂O as a solid. The resultant mixture was heated at 40° C. for 2 h. The resultant mixture was cooled to rt and diluted with 200 mL of EtOAc and 50 mL of Sat. sodium bicarbonate aq. solution. The diluted mixture was stirred for an additional 1 h, before the organic layer was separated, washed with brine, and dried over sodium sulfate. The solvent was removed in vacuo, and the residue was purified by HPLC to provide 10 mg title compound: ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.86 (s, 1H), 7.74(d, 1H), 7.24 (d, 1H), 7.20 (d, 1H), 6.45(d, 1H), 6.39 (dd, 1H), 5.16 (s, 2H), 3.88 (s, 3H), 3.89 (m, 4H), 3.13 (m, 4H). LCMS observed for (M+H)⁺: 401.1.

Example 50 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(7-amino-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone

Preparation of 7-hydrazo-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridine: To a solution of 2-chloro-3-fluoro-4-formylpyridine (5.75 mmol, 1 eq.) in 20 mL of THF was added 1 mL of hydrazine (excess). The resultant solution was heated at 110° C. in sealed tube for 5 h. The reaction was cooled to rt and solvent was removed in vacuo. The crude residue was washed several times with hexane, EtOAc, and dried in vacuo to provide a light yellow solid, which was used without further purification: HPLC retention time=0.20 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect=150.1, found=150.0.

Preparation of 7-azido-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridine: This compound was synthesized according to protocol described in Example 48: HPLC retention time=0.26 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect=161.0, found=160.9.

Preparation of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(7-azido-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridine-2-yl)-ethanone: This compound was synthesized according to protocol described in Example 6: HPLC retention time=2.43 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 min, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect=427.1, found=427.2.

Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(7-amino-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone: The title compound was synthesized according to the procedure outlined in Example 49: ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.86 (s, 1H), 7.74(d, 1H), 7.24 (d, 1H), 7.20 (d, 1H), 6.45(d, 1H), 6.39 (dd, 1H), 5.16 (s, 2H), 3.88 (s, 3H), 3.89 (m, 4H), 3.13 (m, 4H). LCMS observed for (M+H)⁺: 401.1.

Example 51 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-[3-(oxazole-2yl)-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-2-yl]-ethanone

Preparation of (3-iodo-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-2-yl)acetic acid ethyl ester: To a solution of 3-Iodo-2H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine (4 mmol, 1 eq.) in 10 mL of dry THF was added dropwise 0.5 M KHMDS (potassium hexamethyldisilazide) in toluene (4.4 mmol, 1.1 eq.) at −78° C., under nitrogen atmosphere, and the resultant solution was stirred at for 30 minutes at −78° C. Chloro ethyl acetate (8 mmol, 2 eq.) was added dropwise to the reaction solution and the reaction solution was warmed to rt over 1.5 hour and stirred overnight. Following an aqueous workup, the crude product was purified by silica gel chromatography (20% EtOAc in hexane to 70% EtOAc in hexane) to provide 70.2 mg of (3-iodo-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-2-yl)acetic acid ethyl ester: HPLC retention time=2.63 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.08% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect=332.0, found=332.1.

Preparation of (3-iodo-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-2-yl)acetic acid: This compound was synthesized according to the standard ester hydrolysis protocol as described in Example 30 using 1N LiOH as the base. The crude product was used in the next step without purification: HPLC retention time=1.02 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.08% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect=303.0, found=303.5.

Preparation of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-iodo-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-2-yl)-ethanone: This compound was synthesized according to standard peptide coupling protocol using HATU as the coupling reagent: HPLC retention time=297 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.08% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect=512.0, found=512.5.

Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-[3-(oxazole-2yl)-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-2-yl]-ethanone: To a mixture of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-iodo-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-2-yl)-ethanone (0.071 mmol, 1 eq.) and tetrakis triphenylphosphine palladium (0.025 mmol, 0.35 eq.) under nitrogen atmosphere was added 0.5 mL of THF and 2-oxazole-(tri-n-butyl)Tin (0.48 mmol, 6.7 eq.). The resultant mixture was heated in a sealed tube at 80° C. for 48 h. The reaction solution was cooled to rt, diluted with 30 mL of NH₄Cl sat. aq. solution, and extracted with 300 mL of EtOAc. The organic layer was separated, washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The crude residue was purified by silica gel chromatography (0% to 15% MeOH in EtOAc) to provide 12.3 mg the title compound: ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.77 (dd, 1H), 8.51(dd, 1H), 7.8-1 (d; 1H), 7.22 (m, 3H), 6.52(d, 1H), 6.48 (dd, 1H), 6.01 (s, 2H), 3.90(s, 3H), 3.80 (m, 4H), 3.27 (m, 4H). LCMS observed for (M+H)⁺: 453.5.

Example 52 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(5-amino-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl]-ethanone

Preparation of 3-methyl-5-nitro-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine: 3-Methyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine (1 mmol, 1 eq.) was suspended into a mixture of 1:1 fuming nitric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid (1 mL:1 mL), and the resultant mixture was heated at 90° C. for 30 minutes. The reaction mixture was then cooled to rt, and poured into a mixture of sodium bicarbonate and ice. The resultant solution was warmed up to rt and extracted with 300 mL of EtOAc. The organic extract was separated, washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo. The crude residue was purified by silica gel chromatography to provide 70.2 mg of 3-methyl-5-nitro-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine.

Preparation of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(5-nitro-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl]-ethanone: This compound was synthesized from 3-methyl-5-nitro-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine according to the alkylation protocol described in Example 6: HPLC retention time=1.46 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect=445.1, found=445.1.

Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(5-amino-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl]-ethanone: 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(5-nitro-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl]-ethanone (15 mg) is combined with 200 mg of iron powder in 2 mL of acetic acid at 100° C. for 30 min. After cooling to rt, the reaction solution was diluted with EtOAc and filtered. The filtrate was evaporated in vacuo and purified by HPLC to provide 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(5-amino-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl]-ethanone: HPLC retention time=1.46 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile/94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect=414.2, found=415.1.

Example 53 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-β-amino-6-methyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl]-ethanone

Preparation of 1H-3-amino-6-methyl-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyridine: This compound was synthesized according to the cyclization procedure using hydrazine described in Example 3 and the crude product was used in the next step without further purification.

Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-β-amino-6-methyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl]-ethanone: This compound was synthesized according to the standard coupling procedure described in Example 6: ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.75 (d, 1H), 7.22 (d, 1H), 6.86 (d, 1H), 6.48 (d, 1H), 6.42(dd, 1H), 5.18 (s, 2H), 3.89 (s, 3H), 3.75 (m, 4H), 3.16 (m, 4H), 2.62 (s, 3H). LCMS observed for (M+H)⁺: 415.5.

Example 54 Synthesis of 1-[(S)-4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-[1,2,4]oxadiazol-3-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)ethanone

Preparation of 1-[(S)-4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-iodo-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone: A mixture of 2-Chloro-1-[(S)-4-(4-chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-ethanone (1.37 g, 4.08 mmol, 1 eq), 3-Iodo-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine (1.0 g, 4.08 mmol, 1 eq), potassium carbonate (2.26 g, 16.4 mmol, 4 eq), and DMF (15 ml) was stirred overnight at 90° C. The reaction solution was diluted with ethyl acetate, washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃, and concentrated in vacuo. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography to provide 1-[(S)-4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-iodo-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone (2.2 g).

Preparation of 1-{2-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-(S)-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-3-carbonitrile: A mixture of 1-[(S)-4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-iodo-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone (2.2 g, 4.0 mmol, 1 eq), CuCN (3.6 g, 40 mmol, 10 eq), and DMF (25 ml) was stirred at 175° C. for 1 hrs. The reaction mixture was cooled to rt, diluted with ethyl acetate and filtered. The filtrate was washed with water, dried over Na₂SO₄, and purified by flash chromatography to provide 1-{2-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-(S)-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-3-carbonitrile (1.6 g).

Preparation of 1-{2-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-N-hydroxy-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-3-carboxamidine: A mixture of 1-{2-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-(S)-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-3-carbonitrile (1.6 g, 3.6 mmol, 1 eq), NH₂OH.HCl (0.84 g, 10.8 mmol, 3 eq), TEA (1.5 ml), and ethanol (10 ml) was stirred at 65° C. overnight. The reaction solution was concentrated in vacuo, and dissolved in ethyl acetate, washed with brine, and concentrated to provide 1-{2-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-N-hydroxy-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-3-carboxamidine (1.2 g).

Preparation of 1-[(S)-4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-[1,2,4]oxadiazol-3-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone: A mixture of 1-{2-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-N-hydroxy-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-3-carboxamidine (1.2 g), trimethyl orthoformate (20 ml) and para-toluene sulfonic acid (PTSA) (0.1 g) was stirred at 100° C. overnight. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo to provide a crude residue which was purified by flash chromatography to provide 1-[(S)-4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-[1,2,4]oxadiazol-3-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone (0.7 g). LCMS Retention time: 2.61 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile). LCMS observed for (M+H)⁺: 486.

Example 55 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-cyano-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone

A solution of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-cyano-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone (0.15 mmol, 1 eq.) and hydroxylamine HCl salt (0.45 mmol, 3 eq.) in 2.5 mL of EtOH was heated at 60° C. for 1 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to rt, and concentrated in vacuo. The crude residue was dissolved with 200 mL of dichloromethane, washed with 50 mL of 5% K₂CO₃ aq. solution, brine solution, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to provide the desired product as a white solid: HPLC retention time=1.61 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect=444.1, found=444.5.

Example 56 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-[3-(oxadiazole-3-yl)-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl]-ethanone

To a suspension of (0.067 mmol, 1 eq.) of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-cyano-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone in 2 mL of trimethylorthoformate was added camphorsulfonic acid (CSA) (5.0 mg, catalytic amount). The resultant mixture was heated at 50° C. for 10 minutes and cooled to rt. The reaction solution was concentration in vacuo to provide a crude residue which was purified by HPLC chromatography to provide 20.0 mg of the title compound: ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.83 (s, 1H), 8.62(dd, 1H), 7.35 (dd, 1H), 7.22 (d, 1H), 6.51 (d, 1H), 6.44 (dd, 1H), 5.59 (s, 2H), 3.89 (s, 3H), 3.79 (m, 4H), 3.23 (m, 4H). LCMS observed for (M+H)⁺: 454.5.

Example 57 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-[3-(5-methyl-oxadiazole-3-yl)-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl]-ethanone

The title compound was synthesized according to the cyclization procedure using trimethylorthoacetate as described in Example 56: ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.61 (dd, 1H), 7.31(dd, 1H), 7.22 (d, 1H), 6.54 (d, 1H), 6.42 (dd, 1H), 5.57 (s, 2H), 3.89 (s, 3H), 3.77 (m, 4H), 3.21 (m, 4H), 2.69 (s, 1H). LCMS observed for (M+H)⁺: 468.5.

Example 58 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(6-acetimido-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone

1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(6-amido-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone, acetic anhydride (1.2 equiv) and pyridine (3 equiv) was combined in DCM at rt for 30 min: HPLC retention time=1.82 minutes (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C.) using 1 ml/min flow rate, a 2.5 minute gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 minute wash at 100% B (A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.08% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile); MS (ES) M+H expect=443.1, found=442.8.

Example 59 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-methylsulfonyl-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine-1-yl)-ethanone

The title compound was synthesized from 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-iodo-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone according to the protocol described in Example 41: ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 8.65 (d, 1H), 8.48 (d, 1H), 7.39 (dd, 1H), 7.22 (d, 1H), 6.51 (s, 1H), 6.44(d, 1H), 5.53 (s, 2H), 3.91 (s, 3H), 3.78 (m, 4H), 3.34 (s, 3H), 3.22 (m, 4H), LCMS observed for (M+H)⁺: 415.0.

Example 60 Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-oxazol-2-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone

Preparation of Ethyl (3-Iodo-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-acetate: To a mixture of 3-iodo-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine (9.8 g, 40 mmol, 1 equiv) and potassium carbonate (27.6 g, 5 equiv) in 15 mL of DMF at 90° C. was added ethyl chloroacetate (8.5 mL, 40 mmol, 1 equiv). Two hours later, the reaction mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate followed by washing with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃. The organic layer was dried and concentrated to provide the crude product. Purification of the crude product by flash chromatography gave ethyl (3-Iodo-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-acetate (11 g).

Preparation of (3-iodo-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-acetic acid: Ethyl (3-Iodo-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-acetate (11 g, 33 mmol, 1 equiv) was dissolved in 50 mL of THF and 50 mL of MeOH to the solution was added 40 mL of 1N LiOH for 3 h. The organic solvents were evaporated and the remaining aqueous phase was neutralized with 1N HCl to a pH of about 1 which resulted in the precipitation of the desired product as a white solid was filtered and air dried to give (3-iodo-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-acetic acid.

Preparation of 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-iodo-2-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone: A mixture of (3-iodo-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-acetic acid (3.03 g, 10 mmol, 1 equiv), 1-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazine (2.45 g, 1 equiv), BOP reagent (4.86 g, 1 equiv), triethylamine (4.2 mL, 3 equiv) in 10 mL of MF was stirred at rt overnight. To the reaction mixture was then added water and the solid precipitates were removed by filtration and air dried to give 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-iodo-2-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone. LCMS (ES) observed for M+H 530.0.

Synthesis of 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-oxazol-2-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone: To a solution of oxazole (690 mg 10 mmol, 2.5 equiv) in tetrahydrofuran (5 mL) under nitrogen atmosphere, was added dropwise n-butyl lithium (2.5 M in Hexane, 4.8 mL, 3 equiv.). The resultant mixture was stirred at −78° C. for an additional 60 min followed by the addition of ZnCl₂ (0.5 M in THF, 32 mL, 4 equiv.). The reaction solution was allowed to warm to 0° C. and stirred 1 h followed by the addition of 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-iodo-2-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone (2.12 g, 4 mmol, 1 equiv) and palladium tetrakis(triphenylphosphine) (462 mg, 0.1 equiv). The reaction mixture was then heated to reflux for 12 hr, cooled to room temperature and diluted with ethyl acetate. The reaction mixture was washed with water, brine, dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuo to provide the crude product. Purification by flash chromatography provided of the desired product 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-oxazol-2-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone as a white powder (1.03 g). LCMS (ES) observed for M+H 471.1. HPLC retention time=2.4 min (Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, 2.1×50 mm, 5μ, 35° C., 1 mL/min flow rate, a 2.5 min gradient of 20% to 100% B with a 1.1 min wash at 100% B; A=0.1% formic acid /5% acetonitrile /94.9% water, B=0.1% formic acid /5% water/94.9% acetonitrile).

Example 61

This example illustrates the evaluation of the biological activity associated with compounds of interest (candidate compounds) of the invention.

Materials and Methods

A. Cells

1. CCR1 Expressing Cells

a) THP-1 Cells

THP-1 cells were obtained from ATCC (TIB-202) and cultured as a suspension in RPMI-1640 medium supplemented with 2 mM L-glutamine, 1.5 g/L sodium bicarbonate, 4.5 g/L glucose, 10 mM HEPES, 1 mM sodium pyruvate, 0.05% 2-mercaptoethanol and 10% FBS. Cells were grown under 5% CO₂/95% air, 100% humidity at 37° C. and subcultured twice weekly at 1:5 (cells were cultured at a density range of 2×10⁵ to 2×10⁶ cells/mL) and harvested at 1×10⁶ cells/mL. THP-1 cells express CCR1 and can be used in CCR1 binding and functional assays.

b) Isolated Human Monocytes

Monocytes were isolated from human buffy coats using the Miltenyi bead isolation system (Miltenyi, Auburn, Calif.). Briefly, following a Ficoll gradient separation to isolate peripheral blood mononuclear cells, cells were washed with PBS and the red blood cells lysed using standard procedures. Remaining cells were labeled with anti-CD14 antibodies coupled to magnetic beads (Miltenyi Biotech, Auburn, Calif.). Labeled cells were passed through AutoMACS (Miltenyi, Auburn, Calif.) and positive fraction collected. Monocytes express CCR1 and can be used in CCR1 binding and functional assays.

B. Assays

1. Inhibition of CCR1 Ligand Binding

CCR1 expressing cells were centrifuged and resuspended in assay buffer (20 mM HEPES pH 7.1, 140 mM NaCl, 1 mM CaCl₂, 5 mM MgCl₂, and with 0.2% bovine serum albumin) to a concentration of 5×10⁶ cells/mL for THP-1 cells and 5×10⁵ for monocytes. Binding assays were set up as follows. 0.1 mL of cells (5×10⁵ THP-1 cells/well or 5×10⁴ monocytes) was added to the assay plates containing the compounds, giving a final concentration of ˜2-10 μM each compound for screening (or part of a dose response for compound IC₅₀ determinations). Then 0.1 mL of 125, labeled MIP-1α (obtained from Perkin Elmer Life Sciences, Boston, Mass.) or 0.1 mL of ¹²⁵I labeled CCL15/leukotactin (obtained as a custom radiolabeling by Perkin Elmer Life Sciences, Boston, Mass.) diluted in assay buffer to a final concentration of ˜50 μM, yielding ˜30,000 cpm per well, was added (using ¹²⁵I labeled MIP-1α with THP-1 cells and ¹²⁵I labeled CCL15/leukotactin with monocytes), the plates sealed and incubated for approximately 3 hours at 4° C. on a shaker platform. Reactions were aspirated onto GF/B glass filters pre-soaked in 0.3% polyethyleneimine (PEI) solution, on a vacuum cell harvester (Packard Instruments; Meriden, Conn.). Scintillation fluid (40 μl; Microscint 20, Packard Instruments) was added to each well, the plates were sealed and radioactivity measured in a Topcount scintillation counter (Packard Instruments). Control wells containing either diluent only (for total counts) or excess MIP-1α or MIP-1β (1 μg/mL, for non-specific binding) were used to calculate the percent of total inhibition for compound. The computer program Prism from GraphPad, Inc. (San Diego, Calif.) was used to calculate IC₅₀ values. IC₅₀ values are those concentrations required to reduce the binding of labeled MIP-1α to the receptor by 50%. (For further descriptions of ligand binding and other functional assays, see Dairaghi, et al., J. Biol. Chem. 274:21569-21574 (1999), Penfold, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 96:9839-9844 (1999), and Dairaghi, et al J. Biol. Chem. 272:28206-28209 (1997)).

2. Calcium Mobilization

To detect the release of intracellular stores of calcium, cells (THP-1 or monocytes) were incubated with 3 μM of INDO-1AM dye (Molecular Probes; Eugene, Oreg.) in cell media for 45 minutes at room temperature and washed with phosphate buffered saline (PBS). After INDO-1AM loading, the cells were resuspended in flux buffer (Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) and 1% FBS). Calcium mobilization was measured using a Photon Technology International spectrophotometer (Photon Technology International; New Jersey) with excitation at 350 nm and dual simultaneous recording of fluorescence emission at 400 nm and 490 nm. Relative intracellular calcium levels were expressed as the 400 nm/490 nm emission ratio. Experiments were performed at 37° C. with constant mixing in cuvettes each containing 10⁶ cells in 2 mL of flux buffer. The chemokine ligands may be used over a range from 1 to 100 nM. The emission ratio was plotted over time (typically 2-3 minutes). Candidate ligand blocking compounds (up to 10 μM) were added at 10 seconds, followed by chemokines at 60 seconds (i.e., MIP-1α; R&D Systems; Minneapolis, Minn.) and control chemokine (i.e., SDF-1α; R&D Systems; Minneapolis, Minn.) at 150 seconds.

3. Chemotaxis Assays

Chemotaxis assays were performed using 5

m pore polycarbonate, polyvinylpyrrolidone-coated filters in 96-well chemotaxis chambers (Neuroprobe; Gaithersburg, Md.) using chemotaxis buffer (Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) and 1% FBS). CCR1 chemokine ligands (i.e., MIP-1α, CCL15/Leukotactin; R&D Systems; Minneapolis, Minn.) are use to evaluate compound mediated inhibition of CCR1 mediated migration. Other chemokines (i.e., SDF-1α; R&D Systems; Minneapolis, Minn.) are used as specificity controls. The lower chamber was loaded with 29 μl of chemokine (i.e., 0.1 nM CCL15/Leukotactin) and varying amounts of compound; the top chamber contained 100,000 THP-1 or monocyte cells in 20 μl. The chambers were incubated 1-2 hours at 37° C., and the number of cells in the lower chamber quantified either by direct cell counts in five high powered fields per well or by the CyQuant assay (Molecular Probes), a fluorescent dye method that measures nucleic acid content and microscopic observation.

C. Identification of Inhibitors of CCR1

1. Assay

To evaluate small organic molecules that prevent the receptor CCR1 from binding ligand, an assay was employed that detected radioactive ligand (i.e, MIP-1α or CCL15/Leukotactin) binding to cells expressing CCR1 on the cell surface (for example, THP-1 cells or isolated human monocytes). For compounds that inhibited binding, whether competitive or not, fewer radioactive counts are observed when compared to uninhibited controls.

THP-1 cells and monocytes lack other chemokine receptors that bind the same set of chemokine ligands as CCR1 (i.e., MIP-1α, MPIF-1, Leukotactin, etc.). Equal numbers of cells were added to each well in the plate. The cells were then incubated with radiolabeled MIP-1α. Unbound ligand was removed by washing the cells, and bound ligand was determined by quantifying radioactive counts. Cells that were incubated without any organic compound gave total counts; non-specific binding was determined by incubating the cells with unlabeled ligand and labeled ligand. Percent inhibition was determined by the equation:

$\begin{matrix} {{\%\mspace{14mu}{inhibition}} = \left( {1 - {\left\lbrack {\left( {{sample}\mspace{14mu}{cpm}} \right) - \left( {{nonspecific}\mspace{14mu}{cpm}} \right)} \right\rbrack/}} \right.} \\ {\left. \left\lbrack {\left( {{total}\mspace{14mu}{cpm}} \right) - \left( {{nonspecific}\mspace{14mu}{cpm}} \right)} \right\rbrack \right) \times 100.} \end{matrix}$

2. Dose Response Curves

To ascertain a candidate compound's affinity for CCR1 as well as confirm its ability to inhibit ligand binding, inhibitory activity was titered over a 1×10⁻¹⁰ to 1×10⁻⁴ M range of compound concentrations. In the assay, the amount of compound was varied; while cell number and ligand concentration were held constant.

3. CCR1 Functional Assays

CCR1 is a seven transmembrane, G-protein linked receptor. A hallmark of signaling cascades induced by the ligation of some such receptors is the pulse-like release of calcium ions from intracellular stores. Calcium mobilization assays were performed to determine if the candidate CCR1 inhibitory compounds were able to also block aspects of CCR1 signaling. Candidate compounds able to inhibit ligand binding and signaling with an enhanced specificity over other chemokine and non-chemokine receptors were desired.

Calcium ion release in response to CCR1 chemokine ligands (i.e., MIP-1α, MPIF-1, Leukotactin, etc.) was measured using the calcium indicator INDO-1. THP-1 cells or monocytes were loaded with INDO-1/AM and assayed for calcium release in response to CCR1 chemokine ligand (i.e., MIP-1α) addition. To control for specificity, non-CCR1 ligands, specifically bradykinin, was added, which also signals via a seven transmembrane receptor. Without compound, a pulse of fluorescent signal will be seen upon MIP-1α addition. If a compound specifically inhibits CCR1-MIP-1α signaling, then little or no signal pulse will be seen upon MIP-1α addition, but a pulse will be observed upon bradykinin addition. However, if a compound non-specifically inhibits signaling, then no pulse will be seen upon both MIP-1α and bradykinin addition.

One of the primary functions of chemokines is their ability to mediate the migration of chemokine receptor-expressing cells, such as white blood cells. To confirm that a candidate compound inhibited not only CCR1 specific binding and signaling (at least as determined by calcium mobilization assays), but also CCR1 mediated migration, a chemotaxis assay was employed. THP-1 myelomonocytic leukemia cells, which resemble monocytes, as wells as freshly isolated monocytes, were used as targets for chemoattraction by CCR1 chemokine ligands (i.e., MIP-1α, CCL15/leukotactin). Cells were place in the top compartment of a microwell migration chamber, while MIP-1α (or other potent CCR1 chemokine ligand) and increasing concentrations of a candidate compound was loaded in the lower chamber. In the absence of inhibitor, cells will migrate to the lower chamber in response to the chemokine agonist; if a compound inhibited CCR1 function, then the majority of cells will remain in the upper chamber. To ascertain a candidate compound's affinity for CCR1 as well as to confirm its ability to inhibit CCR1 mediated cell migration, inhibitory activity was titered over a 1×10⁻¹⁰ to 1×10⁻⁴ M range of compound concentrations in this chemotaxis assay. In this assay, the amount of compound was varied; while cell number and chemokine agonist concentrations were held constant. After the chemotaxis chambers were incubated 1-2 hours at 37° C., the responding cells in the lower chamber were quantified by labeling with the CyQuant assay (Molecular Probes), a fluorescent dye method that measures nucleic acid content, and by measuring with a Spectrafluor Plus (Tecan). The computer program Prism from GraphPad, Inc. (San Diego, Calif.) was used to calculate IC₅₀ values. IC₅₀ values are those compound concentrations required to inhibit the number of cells responding to a CCR1 agonist by 50%.

4. In Vivo Efficacy

a) Rabbit Model of Destructive Joint Inflammation

To study the effects of candidate compounds on inhibiting the inflammatory response of rabbits to an intra-articular injection of the bacterial membrane component lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a rabbit model of destructive joint inflammation is used. This study design mimics the destructive joint inflammation seen in arthritis. Intra-articular injection of LPS causes an acute inflammatory response characterized by the release of cytokines and chemokines, many of which have been identified in rheumatoid arthritic joints. Marked increases in leukocytes occur in synovial fluid and in synovium in response to elevation of these chemotactic mediators. Selective antagonists of chemokine receptors have shown efficacy in this model (see Podolin, et al., J. Immunol. 169(11):6435-6444 (2002)).

A rabbit LPS study is conducted essentially as described in Podolin, et al. ibid., female New Zealand rabbits (approximately 2 kilograms) are treated intra-articularly in one knee with LPS (10 ng) together with either vehicle only (phosphate buffered saline with 1% DMSO) or with addition of CCX-105 (dose 1=50 μM or dose 2=100 μM) in a total volume of 1.0 mL. Sixteen hours after the LPS injection, knees are lavaged and cells counts are performed. Beneficial effects of treatment were determined by histopathologic evaluation of synovial inflammation. Inflammation scores are used for the histopathologic evaluation: 1-minimal, 2-mild, 3-moderate, 4-moderate-marked.

b) Evaluation of a Candidate Compound in a Rat Model of Collagen Induced Arthritis

A 17 day developing type II collagen arthritis study is conducted to evaluate the effects of a candidate compound on arthritis induced clinical ankle swelling. Rat collagen arthritis is an experimental model of polyarthritis that has been widely used for preclinical testing of numerous anti-arthritic agents (see Trentham, et al., J. Exp. Med. 146(3):857-868 (1977), Bendele, et al., Toxicologic Pathol. 27:134-142 (1999), Bendele, et al., Arthritis Rheum. 42:498-506 (1999)). The hallmarks of this model are reliable onset and progression of robust, easily measurable polyarticular inflammation, marked cartilage destruction in association with pannus formation and mild to moderate bone resorption and periosteal bone proliferation.

Female Lewis rats (approximately 0.2 kilograms) are anesthetized with isoflurane and injected with Freund's Incomplete Adjuvant containing 2 mg/mL bovine type II collagen at the base of the tail and two sites on the back on days 0 and 6 of this 17 day study. A candidate compound is dosed daily in a sub-cutaneous manner from day 0 till day 17 at a efficacious dose. Caliper measurements of the ankle joint diameter were taken, and reducing joint swelling is taken as a measure of efficacy.

In the table below, structures and activity are provided for representative compounds described herein. Activity is provided as follows for either the chemotaxis assay or binding assay as described above: +, IC₅₀>12.5 uM; ++, 2500 nM<IC₅₀<12.5 uM; +++, 1000 nM<IC₅₀<2500 nM; and ++++, IC₅₀<1000 nM.

TABLE 2 Structure 1.001/++++

1.002/++++

1.003/++++

1.004/++++

1.005/++++

1.006/++++

1.007/++++

1.008/++++

1.009/++++

1.010/++++ 1.011/++

1.012/++++

1.013/++++ 1.014/+++

1.015/++++

1.016/++++

1.017/++++

1.018/++++

1.019/++++

1.020/++++

1.021/++++

1.022/++++

1.023/++++

1.024/++++

1.025/++++

1.026/++++

1.027/++++

1.028/++++

1.029/++++

1.030/++++

1.031/++++

1.032/++++

1.033/++++

1.034/++++

1.035/++++

1.036/++++

1.037/++++

1.038/++++

1.039/++++

1.040/++++ 1.041/+++

1.042/++++

1.043/++++

1.044/++++

1.045/++++

1.046/++++

1.047/++++

1.048/++++

1.049/++++

1.050/++++

1.051/++++

1.052/++++

1.053/++++

1.054/++++

1.055/++++

1.056/++++

1.057/++++

1.058/++++

1.059/++++

1.060/++++

1.061/++++ 1.062/+++

1.063/++++

1.064/++++ 

1. A compound having a formula selected from the group consisting of:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate or N-oxide thereof, wherein the subscript m is an integer of from 0 to 2; each R¹ is independently selected from the group consisting of —CO₂H and C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with —OH, —OR^(m), —S(O)₂R^(m), —CO₂H or —CO₂R^(m) wherein R^(m) is an unsubstituted C₁₋₆ alkyl; R^(2a), R^(2c) and R^(2d) are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, oxazolyl, —NO_(2,) —CO₂R^(c), —CONR^(c)R^(d), —C(O)R^(c), —S(O)₂R^(e), —R^(e), —C(NOR^(c))R^(d), —OR^(c), —SR^(c), —NR^(d)C(O)R^(c), —X²OR^(c), —O—X²OR^(c), —X²NR^(c)R^(d), —NR^(c)S(O)₂R^(e), —OC(O)R^(c), and —NR^(c)R^(d); wherein within each of R^(2a), R^(2c) and R^(2d), X² is C₁₋₄ alkylene and each R^(c) and R^(d) is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl, and C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl and each R^(e) is independently selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl, and C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl; each of ring vertices a, b, c and d in formulae Ia and Ib is independently selected from N and CH, and one of said ring vertices is N; and R^(3a) is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, —NR^(f)R^(g), —R^(h), —S(O)₂R^(h), and —Y, wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of homopiperidinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, azetidinyl, pyranyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, piperazinyl, phenyl, thienyl, furanyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, isothiazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl and oxadiazolyl, optionally substituted with from one to three substitutents selected from the group consisting of halogen, —OR^(f), —NR^(f)R^(g), —R^(h),—CN, —NO_(2,) —CO₂R^(f), —CONR^(f)R^(g), and —C(O)R^(f), wherein each R^(f) and R^(g) is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl, and C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, and each R^(h) is independently selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl, and C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl.
 2. A compound of claim 1, wherein R^(3a) is a member selected from the group consisting of homopiperidinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, azetidinyl, pyranyl, tetrahydrofuranyl and piperazinyl.
 3. A compound of claim 1, wherein R^(3a) is a member selected from the group consisting of oxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, triazolyl and thiazolyl.
 4. A compound of claim 1, wherein m is
 0. 5. A compound of claim 1, wherein m is
 1. 6. A compound of claim 4, having formula Ia.
 7. A compound of claim 4, having formula Ib.
 8. A compound of claim 1, wherein R^(3a) is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, and pyrazinyl.
 9. A compound of claim 1, wherein m is 0 or 1; and R^(2a) is hydrogen.
 10. A compound of claim 1, wherein R^(2a) is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, F, Cl, Br and I.
 11. A compound of claim 1, wherein R^(3a) is hydrogen, chloro, fluoro, bromo, oxazolyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, oxadiazolyl, thiazolyl, —R^(h) or cyano.
 12. A compound of claim 11, wherein R¹ is methyl; and m is 0-2.
 13. A compound of claim 1, wherein R^(2c) is selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, CN, NO₂, —CO₂CH₃, —C(O)CH₃ and —S(O)₂CH₃.
 14. A compound of claim 1, wherein R^(2d) is selected from the group consisting of —SR^(c), —O—X²—OR^(c), —X²—OR^(c), —OC(O)R^(c), —NR^(c)R^(d), —R^(e) and —OR^(c).
 15. The compound of claim 1, wherein R^(2c) and R^(2d) are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, F, Cl, Br, I and OR^(c).
 16. A compound of claim 1, having a formula selected from the group consisting of:

or an N-oxide thereof; wherein R^(2c) is halogen, cyano or nitro; and R^(2d) is selected from —SR^(c), —O—X²—OR^(c), —X²—OR^(c), —R^(e), —OR^(c) and —NR^(d)C(O)R^(c).
 17. A compound of claim 16, wherein R^(3a) is selected from the group consisting of halogen, —NR^(f)R^(g), —R^(h) and —S(O)₂R^(h).
 18. A compound of claim 16, wherein R^(3a) is selected from the group consisting of homopiperidinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, azetidinyl, pyranyl, tetrahydrofuranyl and piperazinyl.
 19. A compound of claim 16, wherein R^(3a) is selected from the group consisting of oxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, triazolyl and thiazolyl.
 20. A compound of claim 16, wherein R^(3a) is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl and pyrazinyl.
 21. A compound of claim 1, having a formula selected from the group consisting of:

or an N-oxide thereof; wherein R^(2c) is halogen, cyano or nitro; R^(2d) is selected from —SR^(c), —O—X²—OR^(c), —X²—OR^(c), —R^(e), —OR^(c), —NR^(c)R^(d), —NR^(c)S(O)₂R^(e) and —NR^(d)C(O)R^(c); and R^(2a) is selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, —CO₂Me, —CONH₂, CN, oxazolyl, —CH₂NH₂, —CH₂NHMe, —CH₂NMe₂ and —CH═N—OH.
 22. A compound of claim 21, wherein R^(3a) is selected from the group consisting of halogen, —NR^(f)R^(g), —R^(h) and —S(O)₂R^(h).
 23. A compound of claim 21, wherein R^(3a) is selected from the group consisting of homopiperidinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, azetidinyl, pyranyl, tetrahydrofuranyl and piperazinyl.
 24. A compound of claim 21, wherein R^(3a) is selected from the group consisting of oxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, triazolyl and thiazolyl.
 25. A compound of claim 21, wherein R^(3a) is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl and pyrazinyl.
 26. A compound of claim 1, having a formula selected from the group consisting of:

or a N-oxide thereof; wherein R^(2c) is halogen, cyano or nitro; and R^(2d) is selected from —SR^(c), —O—X²—OR^(c), —X²—OR^(c), —R^(e), —OR^(c) and —NR^(d)C(O)R^(c).
 27. A compound of claim 26, wherein R^(3a) is selected from the group consisting of halogen, —NR^(f)R^(g), —R^(h) and —S(O)₂R^(h).
 28. A compound of claim 26, wherein R^(3a) is selected from the group consisting of homopiperidinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, azetidinyl, pyranyl, tetrahydrofuranyl and piperazinyl.
 29. A compound of claim 26, wherein R^(3a) is selected from the group consisting of oxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, triazolyl and thiazolyl.
 30. A compound of claim 26, wherein R^(3a) is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl and pyrazinyl.
 31. A compound of claim 1, having a formula selected from the group consisting of:

or a N-oxide thereof; wherein R^(2c) is halogen, cyano or nitro; R^(2d) is selected from —SR^(c), —O—X²—OR^(c), —X²—OR^(c), —R^(e), —OR^(c) and —NR^(d)C(O)R^(c); and R^(2a) is selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, —CO₂Me, —CONH₂, CN, oxazolyl, —CH₂NH₂, —CH₂NHMe, —CH₂NMe₂ and —CH═N—OH.
 32. A compound of claim 31, wherein R^(3a) is selected from the group consisting of halogen, —NR^(f)R^(g), —R^(h) and —S(O)₂R^(h).
 33. A compound of claim 31, wherein R^(3a) is selected from the group consisting of homopiperidinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, azetidinyl, pyranyl, tetrahydrofuranyl and piperazinyl.
 34. A compound of claim 31, wherein R^(3a) is selected from the group consisting of oxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, triazolyl and thiazolyl.
 35. A compound of claim 31, wherein R^(3a) is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl and pyrazinyl.
 36. A compound, wherein said compound is selected from the group consisting of: 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[4,3-b]pyridin-1-yl-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[4,3-b]pyridin-2-yl-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-2-yl)-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-2-yl-ethanone; 2-(3-Amino-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-1-[4-(4-chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-chloro-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-methyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-2-yl-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-1-yl-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl ]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridin-2-yl-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-pyridin-2-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-thiazol-2-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-2-yl-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-methyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-oxazol-2-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-fluoro-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-oxazol-2-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]2-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridin-2-yl-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]2-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridin-1-yl-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-thiazol-2-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-pyridin-2-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-methyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-methyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-thiazol-2-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone; 1-{2-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl-2-oxide)-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-morpholin-4-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridin-1-yl-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridin-1-yl-6-oxide)-ethanone; 2-(3-Azidomethyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl-1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl-piperazin-1-yl]-ethanone; (1-{2-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-yl)-methanesulfonic acid; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-oxazol-2-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-2-yl)-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-[1,2,4]oxadiazol3-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl-ethanone; 1-{2-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-N-hydroxy-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-3-carboxamidine; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-[1,2,4]oxadiazol-3-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-[3-(5-methyl-[1,2,4]oxadiazol-3-yl)-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl]-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-methanesulfonyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone; 2-(3-Aminomethyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-iodo-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone; 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-iodo-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl)-ethanone; and 1-[4-(4-Chloro-2-fluoro-5-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-(3-oxazol-2-yl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-yl-ethanone; or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts and N-oxides thereof.
 37. The compound, wherein said compound is selected from the group consisting of:

and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts and N-oxides thereof.
 38. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient or carrier and a compound of claim
 1. 39. A pharmaceutical composition of claim 38, wherein said composition is formed as a stent or stent-graft device. 